Fortress America The American Military And The Consequences Of Peace

Fortress America The American Military And The Consequences Of Peace

Author: William Greider

Publisher: PublicAffairs

Published: 1999-12-13

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 9781891620454

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"William Greider, one of America's most respected political and economic journalists, explores how and why America has avoided coming to terms with the end of the Cold War era—and the troubling consequ"


Book Synopsis Fortress America The American Military And The Consequences Of Peace by : William Greider

Download or read book Fortress America The American Military And The Consequences Of Peace written by William Greider and published by PublicAffairs. This book was released on 1999-12-13 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "William Greider, one of America's most respected political and economic journalists, explores how and why America has avoided coming to terms with the end of the Cold War era—and the troubling consequ"


State of War

State of War

Author: Paul A. C. Koistinen

Publisher: University Press of Kansas

Published: 2012-09-16

Total Pages: 328

ISBN-13: 0700618740

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In his farewell speech, President Dwight Eisenhower famously warned us of the dangers of a military-industrial complex (MIC). In Paul Koistinen's sobering new book, that warning appears to have been both prophetic and largely ignored. As the final volume in his magisterial study of the political economy of American warfare, State of War describes the bipolar world that developed from the rivalry between the U.S. and USSR, showing how seventy years of defense spending have bred a monster that has sunk its claws into the very fabric of American life. Koistinen underscores how during the second half of the twentieth century and well into the twenty-first, the United States for the first time in its history began to maintain large military structures during peacetime. Many factors led to that result: the American economy stood practically alone in a war-ravaged world; the federal government, especially executive authority, was at the pinnacle of its powers; the military accumulated unprecedented influence over national security; and weaponry became much more sophisticated following World War II. Koistinen describes how the rise of the MIC was preceded by a gradual process of institutional adaptation and then supported and reinforced by the willing participation of Big Science and its industrial partners, the broader academic world, and a proliferation of think tanks. He also evaluates the effects of ongoing defense budgets within the context of the nation's economy since the 1950s. Over time, the MIC effectively blocked efforts to reduce expenditures, control the arms race, improve relations with adversaries, or adopt more enlightened policies toward the developing world-all the while manipulating the public on behalf of national security to sustain the warfare state. Now twenty years after the Soviet Union's demise, defense budgets are higher than at any time during the Cold War. As Koistinen observes, more than six decades of militaristic mobilization for stabilizing a turbulent world have firmly entrenched the state of war as a state of mind for our nation. Collectively, his five-volume opus provides an unparalleled analysis of the economics of America's wars from the colonial period to the present, illuminating its impact upon the nation's military campaigns, foreign policy, and domestic life.


Book Synopsis State of War by : Paul A. C. Koistinen

Download or read book State of War written by Paul A. C. Koistinen and published by University Press of Kansas. This book was released on 2012-09-16 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In his farewell speech, President Dwight Eisenhower famously warned us of the dangers of a military-industrial complex (MIC). In Paul Koistinen's sobering new book, that warning appears to have been both prophetic and largely ignored. As the final volume in his magisterial study of the political economy of American warfare, State of War describes the bipolar world that developed from the rivalry between the U.S. and USSR, showing how seventy years of defense spending have bred a monster that has sunk its claws into the very fabric of American life. Koistinen underscores how during the second half of the twentieth century and well into the twenty-first, the United States for the first time in its history began to maintain large military structures during peacetime. Many factors led to that result: the American economy stood practically alone in a war-ravaged world; the federal government, especially executive authority, was at the pinnacle of its powers; the military accumulated unprecedented influence over national security; and weaponry became much more sophisticated following World War II. Koistinen describes how the rise of the MIC was preceded by a gradual process of institutional adaptation and then supported and reinforced by the willing participation of Big Science and its industrial partners, the broader academic world, and a proliferation of think tanks. He also evaluates the effects of ongoing defense budgets within the context of the nation's economy since the 1950s. Over time, the MIC effectively blocked efforts to reduce expenditures, control the arms race, improve relations with adversaries, or adopt more enlightened policies toward the developing world-all the while manipulating the public on behalf of national security to sustain the warfare state. Now twenty years after the Soviet Union's demise, defense budgets are higher than at any time during the Cold War. As Koistinen observes, more than six decades of militaristic mobilization for stabilizing a turbulent world have firmly entrenched the state of war as a state of mind for our nation. Collectively, his five-volume opus provides an unparalleled analysis of the economics of America's wars from the colonial period to the present, illuminating its impact upon the nation's military campaigns, foreign policy, and domestic life.


Preventing Conflict: Military Engagement in Peacetime

Preventing Conflict: Military Engagement in Peacetime

Author:

Publisher: DIANE Publishing

Published:

Total Pages: 43

ISBN-13: 1428967354

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Book Synopsis Preventing Conflict: Military Engagement in Peacetime by :

Download or read book Preventing Conflict: Military Engagement in Peacetime written by and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on with total page 43 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Come Home, America

Come Home, America

Author: William Greider

Publisher: Rodale

Published: 2009-03-17

Total Pages: 338

ISBN-13: 1594868166

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Asserts that America is straying from its democratic ideals and faltering in a rapidly globalized world community, and challenges policies that are based on a priority of making America "number one" in the world while examining the economic and politicalforces that have brought about contemporary problems.


Book Synopsis Come Home, America by : William Greider

Download or read book Come Home, America written by William Greider and published by Rodale. This book was released on 2009-03-17 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Asserts that America is straying from its democratic ideals and faltering in a rapidly globalized world community, and challenges policies that are based on a priority of making America "number one" in the world while examining the economic and politicalforces that have brought about contemporary problems.


US National Defense for the Twenty-first Century

US National Defense for the Twenty-first Century

Author: Edward A. Olsen

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2014-07-10

Total Pages: 228

ISBN-13: 1135308772

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This provocative critique of Washington's current security policies, draws on the arguments made by an array of non-interventionist and conservative-nationalist scholars. It provides a blueprint for a more restrained and unilateral US role in global affairs.


Book Synopsis US National Defense for the Twenty-first Century by : Edward A. Olsen

Download or read book US National Defense for the Twenty-first Century written by Edward A. Olsen and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-07-10 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This provocative critique of Washington's current security policies, draws on the arguments made by an array of non-interventionist and conservative-nationalist scholars. It provides a blueprint for a more restrained and unilateral US role in global affairs.


American Empire

American Empire

Author: Joshua Freeman

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2013-08-06

Total Pages: 546

ISBN-13: 0143123491

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A landmark history of postwar America and the second volume in the Penguin History of the United States series, edited by Eric Foner In this momentous work, acclaimed labor historian Joshua B. Freeman presents an epic portrait of the United States in the latter half of the twentieth century, revealing a nation galvanized by change even as conflict seethed within its borders. Beginning in 1945, he charts the astounding rise of the labor movement and its pitched struggle with the bastions of American capitalism in the 1940s and '50s, untangling the complicated threads between the workers’ agenda and that of the civil rights and women’s movements. Through the lens of civil rights, the Cold War struggle, and the labor movement, American Empire teaches us something profound about our past while illuminating the issues that continue to animate American political discourse today.


Book Synopsis American Empire by : Joshua Freeman

Download or read book American Empire written by Joshua Freeman and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2013-08-06 with total page 546 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A landmark history of postwar America and the second volume in the Penguin History of the United States series, edited by Eric Foner In this momentous work, acclaimed labor historian Joshua B. Freeman presents an epic portrait of the United States in the latter half of the twentieth century, revealing a nation galvanized by change even as conflict seethed within its borders. Beginning in 1945, he charts the astounding rise of the labor movement and its pitched struggle with the bastions of American capitalism in the 1940s and '50s, untangling the complicated threads between the workers’ agenda and that of the civil rights and women’s movements. Through the lens of civil rights, the Cold War struggle, and the labor movement, American Empire teaches us something profound about our past while illuminating the issues that continue to animate American political discourse today.


American Democracy in Peril

American Democracy in Peril

Author: William E. Hudson

Publisher: CQ Press

Published: 2020-02-07

Total Pages: 346

ISBN-13: 1544390092

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American Democracy in Peril encapsulates the tumultuous state of American politics. By introducing the history of democratic theory in terms of four "models" of democracy, Hudson provides readers with a set of criteria against which to evaluate the challenges discussed later. This provocative book offers a structured yet critical examination of the American political system, designed to stimulate students to consider how the facts they learn about American politics relate to democratic ideals. This new edition incorporates the Trump Presidency and the polarization that has accompanied his leadership.


Book Synopsis American Democracy in Peril by : William E. Hudson

Download or read book American Democracy in Peril written by William E. Hudson and published by CQ Press. This book was released on 2020-02-07 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: American Democracy in Peril encapsulates the tumultuous state of American politics. By introducing the history of democratic theory in terms of four "models" of democracy, Hudson provides readers with a set of criteria against which to evaluate the challenges discussed later. This provocative book offers a structured yet critical examination of the American political system, designed to stimulate students to consider how the facts they learn about American politics relate to democratic ideals. This new edition incorporates the Trump Presidency and the polarization that has accompanied his leadership.


Achieving Inclusionary Governance: Advancing Peace and Development in First and Third World Nations

Achieving Inclusionary Governance: Advancing Peace and Development in First and Third World Nations

Author: Terrence Paupp

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2021-10-01

Total Pages: 541

ISBN-13: 9004481370

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This work shows that not only is inclusionary governance possible, but that the essential legal foundation is already in place; all that is required is the compliance of nations with their obligations under international human rights law, and the centuries-old, nation-state-dominated, war-oriented “balance of power” will be gone forever. Achieving Inclusionary Governance is an essential starting point for any study or project that aims to pursue, in today’s globalized environment, the democratic tradition on its historically mandated way to realizing the political, civil, and socioeconomic rights of all people. Published under the Transnational Publishers imprint.


Book Synopsis Achieving Inclusionary Governance: Advancing Peace and Development in First and Third World Nations by : Terrence Paupp

Download or read book Achieving Inclusionary Governance: Advancing Peace and Development in First and Third World Nations written by Terrence Paupp and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2021-10-01 with total page 541 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This work shows that not only is inclusionary governance possible, but that the essential legal foundation is already in place; all that is required is the compliance of nations with their obligations under international human rights law, and the centuries-old, nation-state-dominated, war-oriented “balance of power” will be gone forever. Achieving Inclusionary Governance is an essential starting point for any study or project that aims to pursue, in today’s globalized environment, the democratic tradition on its historically mandated way to realizing the political, civil, and socioeconomic rights of all people. Published under the Transnational Publishers imprint.


Playing Place

Playing Place

Author: Chad Randl

Publisher: MIT Press

Published: 2023-08-15

Total Pages: 270

ISBN-13: 0262373432

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An essay collection exploring the board game’s relationship to the built environment, revealing the unexpected ways that play reflects perceptions of space. Board games harness the creation of entirely new worlds. From the medieval warlord to the modern urban planner, players are permitted to inhabit a staggering variety of roles and are prompted to incorporate preexisting notions of placemaking into their decisions. To what extent do board games represent the social context of their production? How might they reinforce or subvert normative ideas of community and fulfillment? In Playing Place, Chad Randl and D. Medina Lasansky have curated a collection of thirty-seven fascinating essays, supplemented by a rich trove of photo illustrations, that unpack these questions with breadth and care. Although board games are often recreational objects, their mythologies and infrastructure do not exist in a vacuum—rather, they echo and reproduce prevalent cultural landscapes. This thesis forms the throughline of pieces reflecting on subjects as diverse as the rigidly gendered fantasies of classic mass-market games; the imperial convictions embedded in games that position player-protagonists as conquerors establishing dominion over their “discoveries”; and even the uncanny prescience of games that have players responding to a global pandemic. Representing a thrilling convergence of historiography, architectural history, and media studies scholarship, Playing Place suggests not only that tabletop games should be taken seriously but also that the medium itself is uniquely capable of facilitating our critical consideration of structures that are often taken for granted.


Book Synopsis Playing Place by : Chad Randl

Download or read book Playing Place written by Chad Randl and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2023-08-15 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An essay collection exploring the board game’s relationship to the built environment, revealing the unexpected ways that play reflects perceptions of space. Board games harness the creation of entirely new worlds. From the medieval warlord to the modern urban planner, players are permitted to inhabit a staggering variety of roles and are prompted to incorporate preexisting notions of placemaking into their decisions. To what extent do board games represent the social context of their production? How might they reinforce or subvert normative ideas of community and fulfillment? In Playing Place, Chad Randl and D. Medina Lasansky have curated a collection of thirty-seven fascinating essays, supplemented by a rich trove of photo illustrations, that unpack these questions with breadth and care. Although board games are often recreational objects, their mythologies and infrastructure do not exist in a vacuum—rather, they echo and reproduce prevalent cultural landscapes. This thesis forms the throughline of pieces reflecting on subjects as diverse as the rigidly gendered fantasies of classic mass-market games; the imperial convictions embedded in games that position player-protagonists as conquerors establishing dominion over their “discoveries”; and even the uncanny prescience of games that have players responding to a global pandemic. Representing a thrilling convergence of historiography, architectural history, and media studies scholarship, Playing Place suggests not only that tabletop games should be taken seriously but also that the medium itself is uniquely capable of facilitating our critical consideration of structures that are often taken for granted.


Crucible of Power

Crucible of Power

Author: Howard Jones

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 404

ISBN-13: 9780742564541

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"There was the sound of a single bullet, and then . . . a deafening barrage of gunfire and explosions. There were, literally, thousands of bullets in the air at once, and more tracers streaking across the sky than there were stars overhead. It was a miracle that most of us weren't killed instantly." Staff Sergeant Salvatore, "Sal," Giunta was the first living person to receive the Medal of Honor--the highest honor presented by the U.S. military--since the conclusion of the Vietnam War. In "Living with Honor, "this hero who maintains he is "just a soldier" tells us the story of the fateful day in Afghanistan that led to his receiving the unique honor. With candor, insight, and humility, Giunta not only recounts the harrowing events leading up to when he and his company fell under siege, but also illustrates the empowering, invaluable lessons he learned. As a seventeen-year-old teen working at Subway, Giunta was like any other kid trying to figure out which step to take next with his life after graduating from high school. When Giunta walked into the local Army recruiting center in his hometown, he just wanted a free T-shirt. But when he walked out, his curiosity had been piqued and he enlisted in the Army. Deployed to Afghanistan, Giunta soon learned from the more seasoned soldiers how "different" this war was compared to others that America had fought. Stationed with the 173rd Airborne Brigade near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the Korengal Valley-- also known as the "Valley of Death"--Giunta and his company were ambushed by Taliban insurgents. Giunta went into action after seeing that his squad leader had fallen. Exposing himself to blistering enemy fire, Giunta charged toward his squad leader and administered first aid while he covered him with his own body. Though Giunta was struck by the relentless barrage of bullets, he engaged the enemy and then attempted to reach additional wounded soldiers. When he realized that yet another soldier was separated from his unit, he advanced forward. Discovering two rebels carrying away a U.S. soldier, Giunta killed one insurgent and wounded the other, and immediately provided aid to the injured soldier. More than just a remarkable memoir by a remarkable person, "Living with Honor "is a powerful testament to the human spirit and all that one can achieve when faced with seemingly impossible obstacles. *** The President clasps the medal around my neck. Applause fills the room. But I know it's not for me alone. I look at my mom and dad. I look at Brennan's parents and I look at Mendoza's. And I try to communicate to Brennan and Mendoza wordlessly: "This is for you . . . and for everyone who has fought and died. For everyone who has made the ultimate sacrifice. I am not a hero. I'm just a soldier." --Salvatore A. Giunta, from "Living with Honor"


Book Synopsis Crucible of Power by : Howard Jones

Download or read book Crucible of Power written by Howard Jones and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2009 with total page 404 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "There was the sound of a single bullet, and then . . . a deafening barrage of gunfire and explosions. There were, literally, thousands of bullets in the air at once, and more tracers streaking across the sky than there were stars overhead. It was a miracle that most of us weren't killed instantly." Staff Sergeant Salvatore, "Sal," Giunta was the first living person to receive the Medal of Honor--the highest honor presented by the U.S. military--since the conclusion of the Vietnam War. In "Living with Honor, "this hero who maintains he is "just a soldier" tells us the story of the fateful day in Afghanistan that led to his receiving the unique honor. With candor, insight, and humility, Giunta not only recounts the harrowing events leading up to when he and his company fell under siege, but also illustrates the empowering, invaluable lessons he learned. As a seventeen-year-old teen working at Subway, Giunta was like any other kid trying to figure out which step to take next with his life after graduating from high school. When Giunta walked into the local Army recruiting center in his hometown, he just wanted a free T-shirt. But when he walked out, his curiosity had been piqued and he enlisted in the Army. Deployed to Afghanistan, Giunta soon learned from the more seasoned soldiers how "different" this war was compared to others that America had fought. Stationed with the 173rd Airborne Brigade near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the Korengal Valley-- also known as the "Valley of Death"--Giunta and his company were ambushed by Taliban insurgents. Giunta went into action after seeing that his squad leader had fallen. Exposing himself to blistering enemy fire, Giunta charged toward his squad leader and administered first aid while he covered him with his own body. Though Giunta was struck by the relentless barrage of bullets, he engaged the enemy and then attempted to reach additional wounded soldiers. When he realized that yet another soldier was separated from his unit, he advanced forward. Discovering two rebels carrying away a U.S. soldier, Giunta killed one insurgent and wounded the other, and immediately provided aid to the injured soldier. More than just a remarkable memoir by a remarkable person, "Living with Honor "is a powerful testament to the human spirit and all that one can achieve when faced with seemingly impossible obstacles. *** The President clasps the medal around my neck. Applause fills the room. But I know it's not for me alone. I look at my mom and dad. I look at Brennan's parents and I look at Mendoza's. And I try to communicate to Brennan and Mendoza wordlessly: "This is for you . . . and for everyone who has fought and died. For everyone who has made the ultimate sacrifice. I am not a hero. I'm just a soldier." --Salvatore A. Giunta, from "Living with Honor"