The Tragedy of Lebanon is a reissue of Jonathan Randal's acclaimed 1983 study of the rightwing Christian militias in Lebanon that in 1975 plunged the country into a decades-long cycle of war and civil conflict. For this 2012 reissue of the book, Randal added a piercing new Preface reflecting on the meaning of those events, both then and today. As the Senior Foreign Correspondent of The Washingt…
he War Against East Timor presents a powerful and meticulously documented account of the Indonesian occupation of East Timor and the widespread human rights abuses that accompanied it. Carmel Budiardjo combines eyewitness testimonies, investigative reports, and historical analysis to expose the systemic violence, political repression, forced displacement, and humanitarian crisis that unfolded f…
This work presents a historical examination of Brunei’s resilience and continuity as a sovereign Malay Islamic monarchy. Written from an authoritative perspective, it traces the nation's political, cultural, and social developments, highlighting key historical events that shaped Brunei’s survival amid regional changes and external pressures. The book provides insights into Brunei’s identi…
Sandwiched between US-supported Thailand and Communist North Vietnam, the tranquil Buddhist kingdom of Laos - the original Shangri-La - became the centre of a major Cold War crisis in the early nineteen-sixties, when Mervyn Brown served there as deputy to the British Ambassador. War in Shangri-La is a fascinating and highly readable account of his often hazardous experiences, which included th…
East Timor at the Crossroads: Forging of a Nation provides a comprehensive and timely analysis of the critical moment in East Timor’s modern history as it moved toward independence. Peter Carey examines the political, social, and historical forces that shaped the territory’s struggle for self-determination, highlighting the impact of colonial rule, Indonesia’s occupation, and the role of …
After decades of political turmoil, war and economic hardship, Laos is now reshaping itself for the 21st century. As the newest member of the influential Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Lao and their culture are on the brink of rapid, unpredictable change. Cultures of the World: Laos explores the evolving Lao lifestyle and captures in vibrant color the customs and festivals…
Japan and Its World: Two Centuries of Change by Marius B. Jansen synthesizes decades of scholarship to explore how Japanese self-perception and its view of the Western world have evolved since the 18th century. Based on the Brown and Haley lectures delivered in 1975, the book traces key transformations in Japanese society, including challenges to the Confucian order, the quest for global wisdom…
ast Timor: Nationalism & Colonialism offers a compelling examination of the historical forces that shaped East Timor’s struggle for self-determination. Jill Jolliffe traces the roots of Timorese nationalism from the colonial period under Portugal through the geopolitical pressures that culminated in Indonesia’s invasion and subsequent occupation. Drawing on firsthand reporting, archival res…
This book is a compilation of 51 articles that were written about Brunei which covered many interesting tales and stories of Brunei, including the Brunei origins of the Sambas Sultanate, the histories of the streets in Bandar Seri Begawan, how Brunei was governed after the Second World War, how students, teachers and parents celebrate the end of the school year, Brunei in the London newspaper o…
The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) is situated in the centré of Indochina. Its area is 236,800 square kilometres and its population is over 3.5 million. Laos is populated by 68 tribes and ethnic minorities classified into three major ethnic 3ups: the Lao Loume (lowlanders, or valley Lau), the Lao Teng (midlanders, or mountain slope Lao) and the Lao Sung (highlanders, or mountain peak …