New Books in Political Science

China’s rise to global prominence is a pretty good contender for the most important world development in the past 30 years. But now the question is how Beijing managed to be successful on the international stage–let alone how large that success is—with fierce debates between hawks and doves in the West and elsewhere.Jeremy Garlick tries to offer an explanation of China’s success and how Beijing is trying to remake the international system in Advantage China: Agent of Change in an Era of Global Disruption (Bloomsbury, 2023)Jeremy is an associate professor in the Department of International and Diplomatic Studies at the Prague University of Economics and Business and the director of the Jan Masaryk Centre for International Studies. His first book is The Impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative: From Asia to Europe (Routledge: 2019), and his second is Reconfiguring the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (Routledge: 2022)You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Advantage China. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia.Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

Laying the foundation for an understanding of US-Israeli relations, this lively and accessible book provides critical background on the origins and development of the 'special' relations between Israel and the United States.Questioning the usual neo-realist approach to understanding this relationship, David Tal instead suggests that the relations between the two nations were constructed on idealism, political culture, and strategic ties.Based on a diverse range of primary sources collected in archives in both Israel and the United States, The Making of an Alliance: The Origins and Development of the US-Israel Relationship (Cambridge UP, 2022) discusses the development of relations built through constant contact between people and ideas, showing how presidents and Prime Ministers, state officials, and ordinary people from both countries, impacted one another. It was this constancy of religion, values, and history, serving the bedrock of the relations between the two countries and peoples, over which the ephemeral was negotiated.The author, David Tal, is Professor and Yossi Harel Chair in Modern Israel Studies in the Department of History at the University of Sussex. A historian of diplomatic and military history, he has published extensively on Israeli diplomatic and military history, and U.S. diplomatic history and disarmament policies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

Historian James Wolfinger discusses Black politics in 20th-century Philadelphia, highlighting grassroots movements, challenges against discrimination, and shifts from Republican to Democratic leadership. The podcast explores the impact of Black activism on local politics, including protests against police abuse, education reform, and election of African American representatives. It sheds light on pivotal figures like Mayor Wilson Goode and the historical evolution of political alignments within the Black community.

Tanisha M. Fazal discusses the hidden costs of war and the impact of improved military medicine on survival rates. She highlights the financial and personal implications for wounded soldiers and their families, emphasizing the need for policymakers to consider the true costs of war and invest in healthcare for veterans.

Former Professor of Strategy & Policy, Donald Stoker, challenges US war strategy, highlighting flaws in limited war thinking. He discusses historical examples from Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq, emphasizing the importance of clear objectives and secure peace post-conflict. Critiquing current 'forever wars' in Afghanistan and Iraq, he proposes a new approach for future conflicts.

Nationalism has long been a normatively and empirically contested concept, associated with democratic revolutions and public goods provision, but also with xenophobia, genocide, and wars. Moving beyond facile distinctions between 'good' and 'bad' nationalisms, Varieties of Nationalism: Communities, Narratives, Identities (Cambridge University Press 2023) argues that nationalism is an empirically variegated ideology. Definitional disagreements, Eurocentric conceptualizations, and linear associations between ethnicity and nationalism have hampered our ability to synthesize insights. This book proposes that nationalism can be broken down productively into parts based on three key questions: 1. Does a nation exist? 2. How do national narratives vary? 3. When do national narratives matter? The answers to these questions generate five dimensions along which nationalism varies: elite fragmentation and popular fragmentation of national communities; ascriptiveness and thickness of national narratives; and salience of national identities.Our guests are: Maya Tudor, who is an Associate Professor of Politics and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. And Harris Mylonas, who is an Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University.Our host is Eleonora Mattiacci, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Amherst College. She is the author of "Volatile States in International Politics" (Oxford University Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

Philosophy professor J. P. Messina discusses non-state censorship by social groups, employers, media corporations, and search engines. Examining the implications of private censorship on freedom of expression and communication. Exploring the complexities of censorship, including challenges in framing discussions and the need for nuanced analysis. Delving into cases of private entities censoring speech and the importance of fostering open dialogue in democratic societies.

Professor Amos Goldberg from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem discusses the Israel-Hamas conflict, dissecting slogans like 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' and debates around genocide accusations. The conversation also explores potential resolutions and the complexities of conflicting historical narratives.

Éric Fassin, a Professor at Université Paris 8, discusses state anti-intellectualism in France and beyond, highlighting authoritarian neoliberalism and the need for intellectual work in combating political anti-intellectualism. The podcast explores the intersection of anti-intellectualism and politics, defends academia in democracies, and emphasizes the significance of public engagement in sociological discourse.

George R. Boyer discusses the evolution of social welfare policy in Britain, highlighting the non-linear progression from the Victorian era to the post-war welfare state. He explores challenges faced by lower skilled workers, the truth behind Victorian poverty, and the rise of social welfare reform in Britain. Key figures like William Beveridge and the Labour government's legislation after WWII are emphasized.