The sudden demise of arguably the world’s greatest empire in the years following the Second World War was a momentous event in global history. After nearly four centuries of colonial activity, the British relinquished their empire in a little more than twenty years.

In this comprehensive new survey, David McIntyre narrates the sequence of decolonization, summarizes the historical controversies surrounding its causes, and considers what was distinctive about the way events unfolded. The author argues that although colonial self-government had a long pedigree going back to the American colonies (and Dominion status had become a peaceful evolutionary route to independence), the upsurge of colonial nationalism after 1945 meant that policy-makers were overtaken by events. The great speed at

which the numerous dependencies in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific were relinquished is analysed and the Commonwealth since decolonization reconsidered, revealing an association displaying surprising vigour in its post-Britannic years
ISBN: 0333644379
Publisher: MACMILLAN PRESS AND ST MARTIN’S PRESS

This is the first book to examine the origins and evolution of global public opinion in national and international policy-making. Written by a highly respected historian, this ground-breaking book provides case studies of world opinion in action, from the ending of apartheid in South Africa, to the protests against sweatshop practices in the early part of the 21st century. Peter Stearns also demonstrates the function and effectiveness of world opinion over the last two centuries, explaining what it is, why and how it originated, where it has succeeded and why. With a full examination of the relationship between world opinion and Islam and the protests against the 2003 Iraq war, author Peter Stearns also assesses the future possibilities of the role of world opinion.
ISBN: 185168364X
Publisher: VIVA BOOKS

On the world maps common in America, the Western Hemisphere lies front and center, while the Indian Ocean region all but disappears. This convention reveals the geopolitical focus of the now-departed twentieth century, but in the twenty-first century that focus will fundamentally change. In this pivotal examination of the countries known as “Monsoon Asia”–which include India, Pakistan, China, Indonesia, Burma, Oman, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Tanzania–bestselling author Robert D. Kaplan shows how crucial this dynamic area has become to American power. It is here that the fight for democracy, energy independence, and religious freedom will be lost or won, and it is here that American foreign policy must concentrate if the United States is to remain relevant in an ever-changing world. From the Horn of Africa to the Indonesian archipelago and beyond, Kaplan exposes the effects of population growth, climate change, and extremist politics on this unstable region, demonstrating why Americans can no longer afford to ignore this important area of the world.
ISBN: 9780812979206
Publisher: RANDOM HOUSE

The Ottoman chronicles recount that the first sultan, Osman, dreamt of the dynasty he would found – a tree, fully-formed, emerged from his navel, symbolising the vigour of his successors and the extent of their domains.

This is the first book to tell the full story of the Ottoman dynasty that for six centuries held sway over territories stretching, at their greatest, from Hungary to the Persian Gulf, and from North Africa to the Caucasus.

Understanding the realization of Osman’s vision is essential for anyone who seeks to understand the modern world.
ISBN: 9780719561122
Publisher: JOHN MURRAY