In a time of great political change and unrest, these highly topical texts offer succinct accounts of the contemporary political environment in the Middle East.
 

Written in a clear and accessible manner, this series fills a conspicuous gap in the existing academic literature on the MENA region. It will be of interest not only to students of international politics and Middle East studies, but also to anyone travelling in or wanting to learn more about the region. Here we have provided a selection of the most recent titles, but you can see below for links to the rest of the series. 

To receive 20% off any of the series titles for a limited time only*, enter the code GDC72 at checkout.

 Lebanon: The Politics of a Penetrated Society

Systematically exploring Lebanon’s history, society and politics, the author stresses the importance of the crucial role of external actors in the Lebanese system. The analysis encompasses:

• the formation of the state
• weaknesses and dynamics of the Lebanese state
• the civil war
• post-war government and change
• the Lebanese economy
• foreign policy

 Libya: Continuity and Change

Following a brief look at pre-independence Libya, the author explores the way in which the fragility of the post-independence state, unable to contain rising Arab nationalist struggles and growing economic expectations, opened the way for the Free Unionist Officers led by Muammar al-Qaddafi to seize power. He then traces the progressive development of the revolutionary state through four stages:

• the consolidation of power to 1973
• the projection of power to 1986
• withdrawal and retrenchment to 1999
• the redefinition of the state after 1999.

Jordan: A Hashemite Legacy, 2nd Edition

Under the rule of King Abdullah II, Jordan has remained an influential regional player in the Middle East Peace Process, its strategic position on the borders of Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq ensuring that it cannot be overlooked in the regional and international politics. The new edition includes coverage and discussion of:

• the reign of King Abdullah II
• the involvement of the US in the Iraq war and the effect on this on Jordan’s alignment with the West
• the country’s recent economic growth, with an emphasis on economic liberalisation, privatisation, promotion of tourism and encouragement of foreign investment
• the position of Jordan as a point of continuity in an increasingly unstable Middle East.

Turkey: Challenges of Continuity and Change

The authors put issues relevant to Turkey today – such as consolidating democracy, dealing with economic development issues, improving its human rights record and its foreign policy – in an historical context, allowing comparisons with other late developers in the world and reflecting the complexity of Turkish political and socio-economic developments. Turkey also argues that the modernization process that started in the nineteenth century, with all its elements including secularization and Westernization, has taken root.

* = Offer valid until 26th February 2013.
 

Three major objectives guide this research. One is defining Unholy Alliances. This complex dependent variable, focused on the interaction between crime and violence, is defined and explained by looking at actors. Three patterns of interaction show how militants may operate or cooperate with illegal enterprise. The first pattern is characterized by a mix of opportunistic and pragmatic objectives; in the second pattern militants are driven by ideological objectives; while networks of the third type are almost wholly predatory.

The book’s second objective is to identify the conditions prompting the establishment of Unholy Alliances. The authors argue that transborder identity networks provide the setting where militant organizations using violent strategies – insurgency and terrorism – operate. Ongoing armed conflict is a key factor forging alliances of convenience. Another factor is the availability of local criminal markets and networks, which expand in interaction with the global illegal economy. Still another factor is the availability of weak states, black spots, as well as corrupted and criminalized states bordering on states in conflict. Not least, supra-national institutions interact with crime and violence in a quest to counter it.

The book’s third objective is to identify successful fund-raising models used by networks of transborder militants. These include sponsorship, donation, predation and enterpreneurship. Each of them has been analyzed in view of its profitability, risks, and regional strategies for controlling them.

The Unholy Alliances project examines six paired case studies, including the cross-border ethnonational movements of the Kosovar Albanians and the Turkish Kurds; the trans-border religious movements of the Islamists in Bosnia and Algeria; as well as the dysfunctional and vulnerable states of Bulgaria and Serbia, the first transitioning to a market economy; the second pursuing radical nationalist politics. The case study material is complemented by analysis of information from open-source coding by the Minorities at Risk Organizational Behavior (MAROB) project of criminal activities by ethnic organizations in the Middle East and post-Communist countries. The book’s major finding suggests that militants depend on money to survive and succeed; however availability of strong identity networks and in-group support is just as important as money for their survival.

There are three meta-strategies for containing Unholy Alliances. One is the pursuit of closely coordinated regional security policies, those that increase the costs and reduce the opportunities for terror, international criminal activity, and state corruption. Regional coordination and direction is key here. The second meta-strategy is to provide identity groups with open political channels for pursuing their interests, including sub-state autonomy. The third is diversion of illicit economic activity, and gains, into the legitimate economy.

To be held at the European Parliament in Brussels, from 12.30-2.00pm, the following panel of contributors will be present:

Lucian N. Leustean, Senior Lecturer in International Relations and Politics (editor)

Peter Pavlovic, Study Secretary, Church and Society Commission-Conference of European Churches

Frank Turner, General Director of the Jesuit European Office

Gary Wilton, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative to the European Union.

View the invitation here.

The UK Independence Party has often been accused of homophobia, despite its leader's eagerness to portray the party as tolerant of gay people at home, due to its alliances with European parties whose members are openly hostile to homosexuals. View the article here.

Pankowski's book examines the rapid growth of organized radical nationalism on the political level in Poland, showing its origins, its internal dynamics and the historical, political, social and cultural context that has made it possible. Preview the book online, or read more by following the links below.

We are pleased to announce that the Routledge Super Author for December is Marcello Musto.

Routledge celebrates the work of some of the most popular authors in political science in our 'Super Author' collection, showcasing the work of a new author each month. This month we are featuring the work of Marcello Musto, who is currently a Visiting Professor teaching Political Theory at York University in Toronto, Canada.

For a limited time you can enjoy free access to selected journal articles and we are offering a 20% discount on his edited volume, Marx for Today. Simply enter the code CRK92 at the checkout - the offer is valid until January 15th 2013.

Click here to start reading the December Super Author collection.

As Oprisko comments, 'the bottom of the barrel at Princeton is still the bottom of the barrel.'

This matter has been widely debated in the media recently, and Oprisko's argument is made clear in an article in The Georgetown Public Policy Review, Inside Higher Ed and The Chronice for Higher Education, whilst there has been further coverage of the matter in Foreign Policy and Washington Monthly. The issue has also been discussed on political science blogs such as The Duck of Minerva, The Monkey Cage and Outside the Beltway.

This extremely important and current issue cannot be ignored, and is covered in Robert L. Oprisko's book Honor: A Phenomenology, which is available to preview online here. Read more below, or recommend the book to your librarian.

Read more about these new series, and how to discuss an idea or submit a proposal by viewing the relevant announcements below:

Routledge Advances in Democratic Theory

Conceptualising Comparative Politics

Routledge Studies in Global and Transnational Politics

Role Theory and International Relations

For more information, please contact the relevant editors listed on each announcement, or click here to email us.

American Government 7th Edition + Perspectives on American Government bundle:

Adding Perspectives on American Government: Readings in Political Development and Change, edited by Cal Jillson and David Robertson, to your list of course texts will provide classic political science scholarship and the best contemporary analysis to your students. Students will be invited to probe the historical dynamics that brought the United States to where it is today and how those dynamics are likely to affect its future course.

American Government 7th Edition + The American Anomaly bundle:

Adding The American Anomaly, by Raymond A. Smith, to your list of course texts will add a comparative perspective that provides much needed insight of the American political system into global context. Introductory textbooks on American government, however, rarely emphasize in sufficient depth how the United States compares to other political systems. And introductions to comparative politics infrequently situate the United States in their analysis.

American Government 7th Edition + In Defense of Politicians bundle:

Adding In Defense of Politicians, by Stephen K. Medvic, to your list of course texts will give your students a provocative contrarian argument to supplement the framework of American politics described in American Government.

American Government 7th Edition + New Directions in American Politics bundle:

Adding New Directions in American Politics, edited by Raymond J. La Raja, to your list of course texts will add analytical perspectives to American Politics. New Directions in American Politics introduces students not just to how the American political system works but also to how political science works. La Raja brings together top scholars to write original essays across the American government curriculum, capturing emerging research in the discipline in a way that is accessible for undergraduates.

Routledge Major Works WINTER BACKLIST OFFER! (from 12/12/12 – 12/3/13)

There is a fantastic range of titles on offer from subject areas such as Allied Health, Asian Studies, Business, Economics, Education, History, Linguistics, Literature, Media, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Religion and Sociology.

This eclectic mix of titles includes collections on Mao Zedong, Sufism, Marketing Research, Journalism, Radio, French Feminists, War and Human Rights.

Click here to download our list of 50 titles currently available to purchase!

To receive 20% off simply add your selection of books to your cart, place MWINTER20 into the Discount code field and then “Update Cart”!

This particular offer really shows the scope and range of Routledge Major Works-an essential reference teaching programme for your library.

eBooks from Taylor & Francis - Helping you to choose the right eBooks for your Library

As we enter 2013, we are seeing more and more institutions and libraries investing in electronic information products and resources. There is increasingly less space for physical books, and students are now accessing more information remotely.

A 2012 IFLA report rightly makes the point that 'eResources present a number of challenges not encountered with the selection and acquisition of traditional analogue materials'. For this reason, at Taylor & Francis we endeavour to offer you as much support as possible to help you integrate our eProducts into your library as easily as possible. And with our eBooks, we have made things super simple.

At first glance, the sheer scale of our eBook backlist and frontlist can be quite daunting. We have over 30,000 eBooks across the Humanities, Social Sciences, Behavioural Sciences and Law, from leading imprints, including Routledge, Focal Press and Psychology Press.

With eBooks covering everything from Language & Linguistics and Philosophy of Film to Commercial Law and Development Economics, there is a lot to choose from. For that reason, we have made our purchase options nice and flexible; subject eCollections, interdisciplinary eFocus packages, Pick n' Mix and more ...

Give our new video a watch and get a snapshot of what T&F eBooks could do for your library:

A formal announcement was made at the 2012 NECLAS meeting at Yale University on Saturday, November 3rd.

Congratulations Professor Hite!

Based on his award-winning thesis, Kovras's book Truth Recovery and Transitional Justice is due to be published by Routledge in June 2013.

See full details of the award on the PSAI website.

The matter is also discussed more specifically Framing Sarah Palin, by Linda Beail and Rhonda Kinney Longworth, in which the authors analyze the narratives told by and about Sarah Palin in the 2008 election – from beauty queen, maverick, faithful fundamentalist and post-feminist role model to pit bull hockey mom, frontier woman, and political outsider.

The novel acknowledges a number of books in helping inform the author about the world he chose to portray, including Hugh Wilford's The CIA, the British Left and the Cold War: Calling the Tune?, which traces the story of the CIA's campaign to win the Cold War allegiance of the British Left. The book is available to buy from Routledge now, so follow the link below for more information.

Hugh Wilford is Professor of History at California State University, Long Beach.

Professor Buzan is Montague Burton Professor in the Department of International Relations at LSE, and honorary Professor at the Universities of Copenhagen and Jilin. His work focuses on the English School approach to the study of international relations, and he has written extensively on regional security, world history and international security.

This month we are offering FREE ACCESS to many of Professor Buzan's articles! Click here to find out more about how to access this collection, and to view inside his edited volume Non-Western International Relations Theory.