Covering an 18-month span, this latest edition of China Briefing assesses the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen tragedy and its continuing impact on China's domestic and foreign policies. The book opens with an exploration of the legitimacy crisis currently engulfing the Chinese Communist state. A review of the Chinese economy concludes that although it is healthier in 1991 than in 1990, the post…
At 38, Colonel Count Klaus von Stauffenberg, Chief of Staff of the Reich Home Army, was a charismatic figure who was maimed when his staff car was shot up by allied aircraft in North Africa. With only one eye, two fingers and a thumb, he discharged himself from hospital after three months and leant to write with a crippled left hand, to drive, ride a horse, shot and lead a normal active life, t…
Daniele Conversi's book is a comprehensive introduction to Basque and Catalan nationalism. The two movements have much in common but have differed in the strategies adopted to further their cause. Basque nationalism, in the shape of the military wing of ETA, took the path of violence, spawning an efficient terrorist campaign. Catalan nationalism, by contrast, is generally more accommodating and…
My France focuses on some of the most intriguing aspects of French life: politics, myths, personalities, public problems, actions, and conflicts. The topics Weber treats range from sports to religion, and include comments on folklore, national socialism, antisemitism, and famous Frenchmen.
The handbook contains reliable, up-to-date information about Germany. In ten chapters, renowned authors provide information on all aspects of modern life in Germany, from politics and economics to culture. It is filled with interesting figures, facts, and chronological graphs.
With Portugal: From Monarchy to Pluralist Democracy, Walter C. Opello, Jr., brings the transformation of Portugal into sharp focus and, in doing so, offers interesting insights into the problems of forming a democratic regime. This profile traces Portugal’s transition to democracy within the broader context of its historical development as a nation-state, documenting the effects of absolutism…
This book tells about the State of Czechoslovakia. Currently Czechoslovakia has been restored to its original state borders and freedom and for two years has carried out quietly and in good condition the task of recovery and reconstruction. President Benes and the Czechoslovak government in their aim to make the country an oasis of efficient order and democracy in Central Europe. But Britain mu…
Davies argues for a comprehensive view that challenges Western stereotypes and no longer ignores the history and experience of Eastern Europe. He shows that the conventional exclusion of Central and Eastern Europe has led to serious shortcomings in our understanding of one of the most crucial episodes of European history, namely the Second World War. The essays confront prevalent distortions an…
In this vibrant, personal journey through Europe proper, historian and writer Jan Morris--the world's most celebrated traveler--offers an intimate exploration of the continent, telling how it has changed--as well as remained unalterable--for the past half century.
The fall of Singapore in 1942 was the largest capitulation in British military history, and Winston Churchill's "worst disaster". Churchill's promised enquiry was never instituted, and only in 1993 were many crucial official documents released into the public domain. The author of this book investigates these dcouments, meets the existing participants, and tells the story of the fall of Singapo…