‘I would like to share with you what I saw.’The old international order is over, and a competition is underway to determine what comes next. Inflection Point is an insider account of how the Biden administration handled global crises and what is to come under Trump and beyond. Written by a senior member of President Biden’s National Security Council, this book argues there are now two Americas – one internationalist and the other America First – that will compete with each...

Examining how the Cuban Revolution dictated Latin American politics and U.S.-Latin American relations from the 1950s to the present, this fourth edition engages with the question: is the Cuban Revolution dead?Fidel Castro's ascent to power and the revolution he led in Cuba not only catalyzed a wave of revolutionary activity; it also set off a wave of reaction that led to widespread military dictatorships and severe repression culminating in state terrorism. Both re...

If we leave Shrewsbury by its long eastern suburb, known, from the important monastic house which formerly stood at its commencement, as the Abbey Foregate, passing the more modern monument erected at its extremity, Lord Hill’s Column, our way lies for about two miles along the London road, bounded on each side by rich and fertile fields. At the distance just mentioned, this road approaches close to the river Severn, and continues to run along its banks, to the great improvement of the sce...

"Early Travels in Palestine" by using Thomas Wright gives a fascinating glimpse into the writer's explorations of the Holy Land all through the 19th century. The book details Wright's experiences and observations as he navigates the ancient landscapes of Palestine. A travelogue of cultural and ancient significance, Wright's narrative gives readers with a bright portrayal of the location, blending personal encounters with the broader ancient context. Wright's eager eye for detail and his ap...

According to Wikipedia: "Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton KCMG FRGS (19 March 1821 20 October 1890) was a British explorer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, ethnologist, spy, linguist, poet, fencer and diplomat. He was known for his travels and explorations within Asia, Africa and the Americas as well as his extraordinary knowledge of languages and cultures. According to one count, he spoke 29 European, Asian, and African languages. Burton's best-known achievements include trave...

The book begins with an overview of the ancient and medieval context of Palestine, emphasizing its importance as a center of religious pilgrimage for Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Wright examines the motivations behind these early travels, often rooted in the desire to visit sacred sites, such as Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and to engage with the biblical landscape. He highlights the challenges these travelers faced, including difficult terrains, political instability, and the socio-cultural...

THE Author of the following Letters having been flattered into a Belief, that they may probably prove of some Use, or at least Amusement to the World, he has ventured to give them, at the Request of his Friends, to the Publick. His chief Design will be found an Attempt towards solving the Phænomena of the Via Lactea, and in consequence of that Solution, the framing of a regular and rational Theory of the known Universe, before unattempted by any. But he is very sensible how difficult a Tas...

Much has been written at different times on the costume and some other circumstances connected with the condition of our forefathers in past times, but no one has undertaken with much success to treat generally of the domestic manners of the middle ages. The history of domestic manners, indeed, is a subject, the materials of which are exceedingly varied, widely scattered, and not easily brought together; they, of course, vary in character with the periods to which they relate, and at certa...

This book expertly traces the long, erratic, and incomplete path of Latin America’s political and socioeconomic democratization, from a group of colonies lacking democratic practice and culture up to the present. Using the lens of democracy defined by the charter of the Organization of American States (OAS), it examines the periods of US gunboat diplomacy in the Caribbean Basin, the Cold War, the state terrorist dictatorships of the 1970s and 1980s, the imposition of neoliberalism in the 1...

Decades before Christopher Columbus set sail across the Atlantic, a fleet of unprecedented size and technological brilliance dominated the global seas. Commanded by the legendary eunuch admiral Zheng He, the Chinese Treasure Fleet consisted of hundreds of colossal wooden vessels, carrying thousands of men, exotic goods, and immense diplomatic power across the Indian Ocean to the shores of Africa. Yet, this monumental chapter in maritime history was deliberately erased by later emperors, le...

Few historical documents are more interesting or important than the contemporary songs in which the political partizan satirised his opponents and stirred up the courage of his friends, or in which the people exulted over victories gained abroad against their enemies or at home against their oppressors, or lamented over evil counsels and national calamities. Yet, though a few specimens have been published from time to time in collections of miscellaneous poetry, such as those of Percy and ...

Wright chronicles Burton's many expeditions, including his famous journey to Mecca disguised as a Muslim pilgrim, which broke cultural and religious barriers of the time. The biography highlights Burton's fascination with diverse cultures, his proficiency in languages, and his contributions to the study of geography and anthropology. Wright also explores Burton's complex personality, marked by a mix of brilliance and controversy, as he often challenged social norms and held unorthodox view...