Since the Allied invasion of Afghanistan in 2002, the Bush administration has celebrated the imminent demise of the Taliban, with claims of a "moral and psychological defeat" playing a prominent role in the presidential elections of 2004. Some commentators suggested that "reconstruction and development" had won over the Afghan population, despite widespread criticism of the meager distribution …
This report examines the practice of political imprisonment in the People’s Republic of China, documenting patterns of arrest, detention, and punishment of individuals targeted for their political views or perceived dissent. It analyzes the legal and administrative mechanisms used to justify political detentions, including “re-education,” labor camps, and forms of extrajudicial punishment.
Politics in China (Second Edition) provides an overview of China’s political system, its historical foundations, and the key institutions that shape governance. The book explains how the Communist Party functions as the core of political authority, detailing its organizational structure, policy-making processes, and mechanisms of control. It also examines the state apparatus, the role of the …
Uncertain Passage analyzes China’s political, economic, and social transformation during the critical years following Mao Zedong’s death. The book traces the complexities of the transition period, marked by leadership struggles, policy reevaluations, and the gradual emergence of new reform-oriented directions. It explores how China grappled with stabilizing the state, redefining ideological…
This book is a study of regime change in an underdeveloped country with a weak state and strong autonomous social organizations. Regime change is in many countries a traumatic and disruptive experience, but few countries have paid as high a cost to retain traditionally accepted relationships of authority as has Afghanistan since the communist coup
On Iraq and International Politics provides an analytical overview of Iraq’s role within regional and global political dynamics. The book examines Iraq’s foreign policy strategies, its interactions with neighboring countries, and the broader international forces that have shaped the nation’s modern political landscape. Through historical context and contemporary analysis, the author explo…
This book analyzes the Malaysian political crisis between 1968 and 1970, particularly the riots of May 13, 1969. It highlights the communal tensions between Malays, Chinese, and Indians, as well as the impact of the 1969 elections on national stability. It also discusses the government's response, including the formation of the National Movement Council, and how the political elite maintained c…
Evans brings Lao history vividly into focus, from ancient times through to the twenty-first century. He recounts the turmoil of independence from France and the war with Vietnam and its aftermath, up to present-day Laos and the country's hopes for its future. Evans traces the compelling story of the emergence of Laos as a modern nation.
Since 9/11, the Taliban have dominated headlines around the world. The Taliban government, allied to Osama Bin Laden, collapsed dramatically following the Anglo-American invasion of 2001. Since then however the movement has showed an unexpected ability to evolve, and has drawn the world's only superpower into a protracted and seemingly unwinnable conflict in this strategically vital country. No…
This book examines the complex international relations of Laos during the Cold War era, focusing on the competing influence of major global powers. It explores how the United States, the Soviet Union, and regional actors sought to shape Laos’s political direction through diplomatic pressure, military involvement, and ideological competition. The author analyzes internal conflicts, foreign int…