First Published in 2015. The chapters in this text examine the foreign policies of Russia and other selected states of the former Soviet Union. Each chapter analyses the conduct of foreign policy with the context of each state's unique situation. While the authors look at different countries and subregions and analyse various policy factors and imperatives, they all tend to agree that at present no other power has more direct and substantial impact on the foreign policies and international...

**"History is constantly being rewritten. This book reminds us that the center always changes.”—David ByrneThe forgotten story of Central Asia's enlightenment—its rise, fall, and enduring legacy**In this sweeping and richly illustrated history, S. Frederick Starr tells the fascinating but largely unknown story of Central Asia's medieval enlightenment through the eventful lives and astonishing accomplishments of its greatest minds—remarkable figures who built a bridge to the...

Uzbekistan, long considered the center of Central Asia, has the region’s largest population and borders every other regional state including Afghanistan. For the first 25 years of its independence, it adopted a cautious, defensive policy that emphasized sovereignty and treated regional efforts at cooperation with skepticism. But after taking over as President in autumn 2016, Shavkat Mirziyoyev launched a breathtaking series of reform initiatives. His slogan – “it is high time the governmen...

The author does not overestimate the importance of this little book: it is nothing more than its title claims. It consists of three lectures given to popular audiences, with the accompaniment of many illustrations. It represents, however, a considerable amount of work in an almost virgin field. It has involved hard journeys to remote mountain monasteries, and days and nights of conversation and inquiry with many monks and priests. It is not, however, a profound study nor an exhaustive pres...

The reading public may well ask, Why another travel book on Mexico? Few countries have been so frequently written up by the traveler. Many books, good, bad, and indifferent, but chiefly bad, have been perpetrated. Most of these books, however, cover the same ground, and ground which has been traversed by many people. Indian Mexico is practically unknown. The only travel-book regarding it, in English, is Lumholtz's "Unknown Mexico." The indians among whom Lumholtz worked lived in northweste...

A vibrant portrait of an age when Arabic enlightenment anticipated and inspired the European Renaissance, illuminated by its guiding figures and rivals, Ibn Sina and Biruni. In The Genius of their Age, S. Frederick Starr follows up his acclaimed Lost Enlightenment: Central Asia's Golden Age with a portrait of the Arab enlightenment and its key figures--Abu-Ali al-Husayn ibn-'Abdallah Ibn-Sina and Abu al-Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni. A thousand yea...

In "Indian Mexico," Frederick Starr explores the rich cultural tapestry of indigenous communities in Mexico. Through his vivid descriptions and keen observations, he delves into the daily lives, traditions, and struggles of various tribes. Starr's anthropological approach provides readers with a unique perspective on the intersection of modernity and tradition, highlighting the resilience of these communities amidst external pressures. His work serves as both a historical document and a ce...

This ambitious ten-volume series develops a comprehensive analysis of the evolving world role of the post-Soviet successor states. Each volume considers a different factor influencing the relationship between internal politics and international relations in Russia and in the western and southern tiers of newly independent states. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the discrediting of Marxism-Leninism as a source of political legitimacy have prompted a search for fresh principles of polit...

This ambitious ten-volume series develops a comprehensive analysis of the evolving world role of the post-Soviet successor states. Each volume considers a different factor influencing the relationship between internal politics and international relations in Russia and in the western and southern tiers of newly independent states. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the discrediting of Marxism-Leninism as a source of political legitimacy have prompted a search for fresh principles of polit...

Africa has been partitioned among the nations. The little kingdom of Abyssinia, in the north, and the Republic of Liberia, upon the west coast, are all of the continent that remain in the hands of Africans. Liberia alone is in the hands of negroes. Will it remain so, or is it destined to disappear? Is it a failure? The reports which have so frequently been printed in books of travel and elementary treatises of ethnology appear almost unanimous in the assertion that it is. Yet there are tho...

MY own interest in the Congo Free State began at the St. Louis exposition. As is well known, that exposition made a special feature of groups of representatives of tribes from various parts of the world. These natives dressed in native dress, lived in native houses, and so far as possible reproduced an accurate picture of the daily life to which they were accustomed in their homes. Among the groups there brought together was one of Congo natives. This group was commonly known as the pygmy ...

"The Truth About the Congo: The Chicago Tribune Articles" by Frederick Starr is a compelling collection of articles that delve into the complexities and challenges faced by the Congo. Starr, a keen observer and journalist, provides an insightful perspective on the socio-political landscape of the region. Through his detailed reporting, he sheds light on the struggles of the Congolese people, the impact of colonialism, and the ongoing conflicts that have shaped the nation. His work serves a...