Politics and International Relations round-up

Australia and the Middle East: A Front-line Relationship

Editor: Fethi Mansouri

Edition: Second

Publisher: I.B. Tauris

Pages: 2

Price: £25.00

ISBN: 9781848859685

From the insular “White Australia” ideology, through to the impact of 9/11 and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, this book traces the nature of the Australia-Middle East relationship. Fethi Mansouri aims to offer an analysis of the complex relationship, looking at trade, migration and Australia’s military involvement in the region.

Achieving Democracy: Democratization in Theory and Practice

Editor: Mary Fran T. Malone

Edition: First

Publisher: Continuum

Pages: 416

Price: £70.00 and £22.99

ISBN: 9781441191793 and 181824

Mary Malone seeks to make democratic theory accessible to intermediate undergraduate students through case studies selected to ensure that all areas of democracy are thoroughly tested, using empirical evidence. The work presents an assessment of the potential for democracy in the Middle East.

Why the West Rules - For Now: The Patterns of History, and What They Reveal about the Future

Author: Ian Morris

Edition: Second

Publisher: Profile Books

Pages: 768

Price: £12.99

ISBN: 9781846682087

Ian Morris tries to answer the provocative, yet important, question “Why does the West rule?”. He considers the social, political, economic and technological reasons for the West’s dominance, with reference to the Industrial Revolution, the invention of nuclear weaponry and shifts in power dynamics.

Fair Play: A Daniel Dorling Reader on Social Justice

Author: Daniel Dorling

Edition: First

Publisher: Policy Press

Pages: 416

Price: £70.00 and £24.99

ISBN: 9781847428806 and 8790

This collection of writings by Daniel Dorling is drawn from a range of print and online media. His analysis presents evidence that he believes shows that Britain is becoming more politically, socially and economically divided, even as it comes together in terms of educational outcomes and reduced segregation by ethnicity.

Steering from the Centre: Strengthening Political Control in Western Democracies

Editors: Carl Dahlstrom, B. Guy Peters and Jon Pierre

Edition: First

Publisher: University of Toronto Press

Pages: 288

Price: £40.00 and £18.00

ISBN: 9781442641488 and 610699

With an international scope, this book analyses the extent to which the centre of government can retain political control when delivery of public services is increasingly done through networks, contacts and partnerships. By examining the experiences of diverse countries, the contributors detail how chief executives in Western democracies have responded to governance challenges.

Terrorism Studies: A Reader

Editors: John Horgan and Kurt Braddock

Edition: First

Publisher: Routledge/Taylor & Francis

Pages: 504

Price: £95.00 and £29.99

ISBN: 9780415455046 and 55053

Terrorism Studies aims to guide students through some of the key readings on the subject of political violence. Intended to serve as a comprehensive introduction to the field, this collection of essays covers a wide range of topics, including terrorist behaviour and counter-terrorism.

Intercultural Communication: A New Approach to International Relations and Global Challenges

Authors: Houman A. Sadri and Madelyn Flammia

Edition: First

Publisher: Continuum

Pages: 318

Price: £70.00 and £22.99

ISBN: 9781441133526 and 03093

This book focuses on the notion of mindful communication, which requires an understanding of cultural issues. The authors introduce key theories and concepts, as well as contemporary approaches, processes and technologies, and the ethical issues surrounding international communication.

The Obama Presidency: Change and Continuity

Editors: Andrew Dowdle, Dirk C. van Raemdonck and Robert Maranto

Edition: First

Publisher: Routledge/Taylor & Francis

Pages: 234

Price: £100.00 and £28.99

ISBN: 9780415887700 and 7717

This timely book on the presidency presents scholarly and applied insights on Barack Obama’s administration at the midway point of his term. By assessing the political context of his first two years, inter-branch relations and policy developments, it aims to provide the necessary grounding for students to make sense of the continuity and change that Obama represents.

Institutional Theory in Political Science: The New Institutionalism

Author: B. Guy Peters

Edition: Third

Publisher: Continuum

Pages: 232

Price: £18.99

ISBN: 9781441130426

Written by a US-based academic and founding editor of two scholarly journals in the field, this text argues that the “new institutionalism” comprises eight variations on the theme of institutional analysis, and it considers the possibility of a unified theory within institutionalism and its potential as a paradigm for political science. An updated third edition incorporates recent research developments and a new chapter that brings into the discussion themes of discursive politics and constructivism. Although the focus is on political science, attention is also paid to institutionalism in other disciplines.