Based on methodological individualism and a public-choice approach to social theory—and sure to stimulate considerable debate—this book analyzes the interdependence of economic development, social order, and interstate conflict. Weede contrasts the rise of the West over the past 500 years with the stagnation in the great Asian civilizations, arguing that political constraints on    More >

What drives economic policymaking and performance in the Arab states? Paul Rivlin finds that domestic and international pressures have combined in the past decade to simultaneously foster change and limit available policy options. Rivlin examines the socioeconomic issues that are major concerns for policymakers, the role of rental incomes and interest groups, and the particular problems facing    More >

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Although the 1995 Cenepa war between Ecuador and Peru was the first military conflict in South America in more than five decades, the Ecuador-Peru relationship might be characterized as one of enduring rivalry—punctuated by the threat of armed combat. In the context of this history of recurrent crises, Herz and Nogueira analyze the mediation process that followed the 1995 war.   The    More >

Suzanne Rutland charts the vibrant history of the Australian Jewish community from its convict origins through the turmoil of the twentieth century.    More >

Born in Southern Rhodesia, self-made intellectual Edson Sithole (1935–1975?) was a lawyer (the first Black person in southern Africa to earn a doctorate in law), an anticolonial nationalist, and a trailblazing pan-Africanist with one of the strongest voices in Zimbabwe's liberation movement. A political prisoner for nearly half of his adult life, he vanished in 1975—presumably    More >

This ethnography investigates the meaning of learning in the lives of ultraorthodox Jewish women. Presenting a vivid portrayal of the Gur Hasidic community in Israel, El-Or explores the relationship between women's literacy and their subordination. What she finds is a paradox: ultraorthodox women are taught to be ignorant. And they perform the role of being ignorant as only educated women    More >

What will it take to overcome the many challenges that Latin America faces in developing quality, inclusive education for its diverse population? That is the question at the heart of Alejandro Toledo's new book. Toledo begins from the premise that the uneven caliber of schools and universities in the region is only part of the problem. Drawing on his own childhood experiences living in deep    More >

Egyptian President Abd al Fattah el-Sisi has sought to create a "New Republic," a stronger, more authoritarian state capable of positively transforming Egypt's polity, economy, society, and role in the region and the world. Thus far, success has been elusive. Why? And with what consequences for the regime and the country? These are the two questions at the heart of Egypt's New    More >

The 18-day revolt that ended Hosni Mubarak's 30 years of rule marked a historic turning point in the political fortunes not only of Egypt, but of the entire Middle East. While the impact of that seminal event will continue to unfold for years, this volume, written by members of the Department of Political Science at the American University in Cairo, presents an authoritative exploration of the    More >