Global Politics Audiobooks | Politics

Every Citizen a Statesman: The Dream of a Democratic Foreign Policy in the American Century

No major arena of US governance is more elitist than foreign policy. International relations barely surface in election campaigns, and policymakers take little input from Congress. For much of the twentieth century, officials, activists, and academics worked to foster an informed public that would embrace participation in foreign policy as a civic duty. Every Citizen a Statesman recounts an abandoned effort to create a democratic foreign policy. Taking the lead alongside the State Department were philanthropic institutions like the Ford and Rockefeller foundations and the Foreign Policy Association, a nonprofit founded in 1918. In cities across the country, hundreds of thousands of Americans gathered in homes and libraries to learn and talk about pressing global issues. But by the 1960s, officials were convinced that strategy in a nuclear world was beyond ordinary people, and foundation support for outreach withered. The local councils increasingly focused on those who were already engaged in political debate and otherwise decried supposed public apathy, becoming a force for the very elitism they set out to combat. The result, David Allen argues, was a chasm between policymakers and the public that has persisted since the Vietnam War, insulating a critical area of decision-making from the will of the people.

David Allen (Author), Lyle Blaker (Narrator)

Audiobook

10 Days That Shaped Modern Canada

Revisiting ten notable days from recent history, Aaron W. Hughes invites readers to think about the tensions, events, and personalities that make Canada distinct. These indelible dates interweave to offer an account of the political, social, cultural, and demographic forces that have shaped the modern nation. The diverse episodes include the enactment of the War Measures Act, hockey’s Summit Series, the patriation of the Constitution, the Multiculturalism Act, the École Polytechnique Massacre, victories for gay rights, Quebec’s second referendum on secession, The Tragically Hip’s farewell concert, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and ongoing Black equality struggles. Each day represents a window on contemporary Canada, jumpstarting reflection and conversation about who we are as a nation and how we got here. 10 Days That Shaped Modern Canada is the perfect guide for all those curious about the forces that shape our country and about how we understand our place in the world.

Aaron W. Hughes (Author), Tyler Hyrchuk (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte

'The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte' is a book written by Karl Marx, a German philosopher and economist, in 1852. The book analyzes the political situation in France during the mid-19th century and provides a critique of the bourgeois republicanism that had taken hold there. The title of the book refers to the date of the coup d'état in which Louis Bonaparte, the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, seized power in France. Marx used this event as a lens through which to examine the larger historical forces that had led to the rise of Louis Bonaparte and the decline of the bourgeois republic. In the book, Marx argues that the bourgeois republic had failed to address the fundamental economic and social problems facing France, and that this failure had paved the way for the rise of a new form of authoritarian rule. He believed that the only way to truly address these problems was through a proletarian revolution that would overthrow the capitalist system. 'The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte' is considered to be one of Marx's most important works, and it has had a significant impact on the field of political theory. The book's analysis of the relationship between economic and political power has influenced generations of scholars and activists, and it continues to be studied and debated to this day.

Karl Marx (Author), Ethan Williams (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Great UN-Reset: Humanity's Battle Against a Dystopian New World Order

Why is it that our highly-interconnected and globalized world seems more chaotic and dangerous than ever? Have you ever wondered why the world seems to lurch from seemingly unconnected crisis to crisis? From the pandemic to climate change and net-zero policies? From food shortages to high inflation and collapsing markets? But are they really unconnected? This book explores the reality suggesting that, in fact, none of what is happening across the globe is happening by chance. Right under humanity’s nose, supranational organizations such as the United Nations, the Club of Rome and Klaus Schwab’s World Economic Forum strive to usurp national sovereignties in the quest for a dystopian future, with the threat of transhumanism, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, central bank digital currencies, universal basic income and digital IDs looming ever closer. This book compiles hundreds of pieces of evidence to expose the dystopian goals of a global control matrix lying in the shadows. By reading this book, you become part of humanity’s fight back against the new world order being forced on the globe. We must fight for our freedoms and for those of generations to come. Humanity can, and will, win.

Constantine Du Bruyn (Author), Rupert Bush (Narrator)

Audiobook

The life and teaching of Karl Marx - Max Beer

Max Beer's book 'The Life and Teaching of Karl Marx' is a comprehensive biography of the famous German philosopher, economist, and social theorist, Karl Marx. The book explores Marx's life and ideas in great detail, from his early childhood in Trier, Germany, to his intellectual development and eventual rise to prominence as one of the most influential thinkers of the 19th century. Beer begins by discussing Marx's early years, including his upbringing in a family of Jewish descent and his education at the University of Bonn and the University of Berlin. From there, he traces Marx's intellectual journey, from his early interest in Hegelian philosophy to his later involvement in socialist and communist politics. The book also explores the key ideas and theories that Marx developed throughout his career, including his concept of historical materialism, his critique of capitalism, and his vision of a classless society. Beer examines these ideas in detail, providing historical context and explaining their significance both in Marx's time and in the years since. Throughout the book, Beer emphasizes the political and social context in which Marx lived and worked. He discusses the rise of industrial capitalism in Europe, the development of socialist and communist movements, and the political struggles that shaped Marx's ideas and career. Overall, 'The Life and Teaching of Karl Marx' provides a thorough and insightful exploration of one of the most important figures in modern history. It offers a valuable perspective on Marx's life, ideas, and legacy, and is an essential read for anyone interested in political philosophy, economics, or social theory.

Max Beer (Author), Ethan Williams (Narrator)

Audiobook

Laboratories of Terror: The Final Act of Stalin's Great Purge in Soviet Ukraine

Laboratories of Terror explores the final chapter of Stalin's Great Terror in Soviet Ukraine. When the Communist Party Central Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR halted mass operations in repression in November 1938, large numbers of mainly Communist purge victims whose cases remained incomplete were released. At the same time, hundreds of NKVD operatives who had carried out the Great Terror were scapegoated and arrested. Drawing on materials from the largely closed archives of the Soviet security police, this collection of essays by an international team of researchers illuminates the previously opaque world of the NKVD perpetrator. It uncovers the mechanics and logistics of the terror at the local level by examining the criminal files of a series of mid-level NKVD operatives from across Ukraine. The result offers new perspectives on both Stalin's central role in the architecture of the terror and NKVD perpetrators' agency in implementing one of the most horrific episodes of twentieth-century mass violence.

Lynne Viola (Author), Christina Delaine (Narrator)

Audiobook

China's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order

China's Law of the Sea is the first comprehensive study of the law and geopolitics of China's maritime disputes. It provides a rigorous empirical account of whether and how China is changing 'the rules' of international order-specifically, the international law of the sea. Conflicts over specific rules lie at the heart of the disputes, which are about much more than sovereignty over islands and rocks in the South and East China Seas. Instead, the main contests concern the strategic maritime space associated with those islands. To consolidate control over this vital maritime space, China's leaders have begun to implement 'China's law of the sea': building domestic legal institutions, bureaucratic organizations, and a naval and maritime law enforcement apparatus to establish China's preferred maritime rules on the water and in the diplomatic arena. Isaac B. Kardon examines China's laws and policies to defend, exploit, study, administer, surveil, and patrol disputed waters. He also considers other claimants' reactions to these Chinese practices, because other states must acquiesce for China's preferences to become international rules. China's maritime disputes offer unique insights into the nature and scope of China's challenge to international order.

Isaac B. Kardon (Author), Chris Monteiro (Narrator)

Audiobook

Haitian Nobility

The main focus of this text details the establishment of the Haitian Nobility from the Empire and Kingdom of Haiti. The text highlights the lives of Emperors Jacques the First, Henry the First and Soulouque the First. Emperor Jacques the First ruled over the First Empire of Haiti from 1804 until his assassination in 1806. His Royal Majesty, Henry the First ruled the Kingdom of Haiti after having previously ruled as president of the State. Emperor Soulouque the First, re-established the monarchy and the Empire.

Berlin Julien Theodore (Author), Coby Allen (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Fall of the Russian Empire: The Russian Revolution and Civil War, Lenin the Bolsheviks, and Stal

Are you ready to embark on an exciting journey through some of the most dramatic events in Russian history? In this book, readers will gain an understanding of the Russian Revolution, the Civil War, World War I, the decline of the Russian Empire, and how these events shaped Russia's future. From learning about Lenin and the Red Army to discovering how and why Stalin rose to power and his eventual leadership during World War II and beyond. This book provides an essential look at one of the most important periods in Russian history. Readers will be enthralled by this fascinating tale that delves into every aspect of Russia's struggles and successes. Here are some of the topics included in this book: · The Bolsheviks and their role in the Russian Revolution · The Russian Civil War · The rise of the Communist Party · Russia's struggles during World War II For those interested in exploring one of the most significant periods in Russian history this book is for you. Get your copy today and start exploring!

Secrets Of History, Will Forrest (Author), Andrew Cooper (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Dean of Shandong: Confessions of a Minor Bureaucrat at a Chinese University

This audiobook narrated by Wyntner Woody provides an inside view of Chinese academia and what it reveals about China’s political system On January 1, 2017, Daniel Bell was appointed dean of the School of Political Science and Public Administration at Shandong University—the first foreign dean of a political science faculty in mainland China’s history. In The Dean of Shandong, Bell chronicles his experiences as what he calls “a minor bureaucrat,” offering an inside account of the workings of Chinese academia and what they reveal about China’s political system. It wasn’t all smooth sailing—Bell wryly recounts sporadic bungles and misunderstandings—but Bell’s post as dean provides a unique vantage point on China today. Bell, neither a Chinese citizen nor a member of the Chinese Communist Party, was appointed as dean because of his scholarly work on Confucianism—but soon found himself coping with a variety of issues having little to do with scholarship or Confucius. These include the importance of hair color and the prevalence of hair-dyeing among university administrators, both male and female; Shandong’s drinking culture, with endless toasts at every shared meal; and some unintended consequences of an intensely competitive academic meritocracy. As dean, he also confronts weightier matters: the role at the university of the Party secretary, the national anticorruption campaign and its effect on academia (Bell asks provocatively, “What’s wrong with corruption?”), and formal and informal modes of censorship. Considering both the revival of Confucianism in China over the last three decades and what he calls “the Communist comeback” since 2008, Bell predicts that China’s political future is likely to be determined by both Confucianism and Communism.

Daniel A. Bell (Author), Wynt Woody, Wyntner Woody (Narrator)

Audiobook

Xi Jinping: The Most Powerful Man in the World

If China seems unstoppable, so too does its leader Xi Jinping. As general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and president of China, he commands over 1.4 billion people, in a vast country that spans the prosperous megacities of Beijing and Shanghai and desperately poor rural regions where families still struggle with malnutrition. Today, Xi Jinping faces a series of monumental challenges that would make other global leaders tremble: a trade war with the USA, political unrest in Hong Kong, accusations of genocide in Xinjiang, stuttering economic growth, and a devastating global pandemic that originated inside China. But who is Xi Jinping and what does he really want? To rejuvenate China and bring economic prosperity to all its people? To challenge American supremacy and turn China into the world's dominant power? Avoiding both sycophantic flattery and outright condemnation, this new biography by Stefan Aust and Adrian Geiges gets inside the head of one of the world's most mysterious leaders. Skillfully unraveling the hidden story of Xi Jinping's life and career, from his early childhood to his rise to the pinnacles of the Party and the State, they flesh out his views and uncover how he became the most powerful man in the world.

Adrian Geiges, Stefan Aust (Author), Peter Noble (Narrator)

Audiobook

Awakening to China's Rise: European Foreign and Security Policies toward the People's Republic of Ch

Awakening to China's Rise provides the most comprehensive analysis to date of how Europe's major powers have responded to the re-emergence of China as a great power in world politics since the end of the Cold War. To do so, it puts forward a unique cross-regional comparison of how the major European powers (France, Germany, and the United Kingdom) have confronted Chinese assertiveness both in the Asia-Pacific and in Europe. Firstly, it analyzes their response to China's increasingly muscular regional posture in the Asia-Pacific through the development of diplomatic and security initiatives with partners in the region. Secondly, it delineates how they have confronted China's inroads into Europe, looking at the measures that they have taken to tackle Chinese investments in, and supply of, technologies in strategic sectors such as critical national infrastructures, dual-use technologies, and in the digital domain, including Huawei's 5G networks. A longstanding assumption in the IR literature has been that European foreign policies toward the People's Republic of China have been driven by a 'naïve' and self-interested focus on the economic opportunities presented by such a vast market, overlooking security considerations. This book challenges this belief through a detailed examination of the policies of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom from 1989 to the present.

Hugo Meijer (Author), Nigel Patterson (Narrator)

Audiobook

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