I.B.Tauris

»When Ahmadinejad was elected President in June 2005, anxiety replaced election fever amongst many Iranians. To let off steam they told jokes. Why did the new President part his hair so straight? To segregate the male and female lice. But while the laughter died down, the anxiety never went away... «As Iran's nuclear programme accelerates, all eyes are on the blacksmith's son who could have his finger on the trigger. Who is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? What drives him? What formed him? To whom, if anyone, does he answer? Internationally acclaimed journalist Kasra Naji, a native Persian speaker, has spent years in Iran interviewing friends, family and colleagues of the firebrand President to tell for the first time the true story of how he came to power. A picture emerges far more compelling than any of the caricatures offered up so far. While Naji documents the often strange behaviour of Ahmadinejad, with his visions of the Hidden Imam and diatribes against Israel, he also shows him to be full of contradictions: a strange and complex man, at once gripped by apocalyptic beliefs, yet capable of switching spiritual allegiance in the quest for power; a man tough enough to fight street battles in the name of Ayatollah Khomeini during the revolution, who was described by former army comrades as a «coward»; and a man crude enough to invite the German Chancellor to join him in an anti-Jewish alliance, yet sophisticated enough to win the political support of the all-powerful Revolutionary Guard. The unknown Ahmadinejad — revealed here by Naji — is much more of a force to be reckoned with than the bogeyman conjured up by Washington. Naji takes us inside the shadowy council chambers of Tehran, and shows us the plots, passions and personalities that will influence Ahmadinejad's next move, while the world waits with baited breath.

'Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' is perhaps the most famous phrase of all in the American Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson's momentous words are closely related to the French concept of 'liberte, egalite, fraternite'; and both ideas incarnate a notion of freedom as inalienable human right that in the modern world we expect to take for granted. In the ancient world, by contrast, the concepts of freedom and equality had little purchase. Athenians, Spartans and Romans all possessed slaves or helots (unfree bondsmen), and society was unequal at every stratum. Why, then, if modern society abominates slavery, does what antiquity thought about serfdom matter today? Page DuBois shows that slavery, far from being extinct, is alive and well in the contemporary era. Slaves are associated not just with the Colosseum of ancient Rome but also with Californian labour factories and south Asian sweatshops, while young women and children appear increasingly vulnerable to sexual trafficking. Applying such modern experiences of bondage (economic or sexual) to slavery in antiquity, the author explores the writings on the subject of Aristotle, Plautus, Terence and Aristophanes. She also examines the case of Spartacus, famous leader of a Roman slave rebellion, and relates ancient notions of liberation to the all-too-common immigrant experience of enslavement to a globalized world of rampant corporatism and exploitative capitalism.

Eisenstein's last, unfinished masterpiece is a strange, complex and haunting film. Commissioned personally by Stalin in 1941, the project placed Eisenstein in the paradoxical situation of having to glorify Stalinist tyranny in the image of Ivan, without sacrificing his own artistic and political integrity — or his life. Drawing on sources that include Eisenstein's personal archive and the memoirs of those involved in Ivan's making, Joan Neuberger's vivid account reveals how, in almost impossible circumstances, he managed to create a film of cinematic innovation, intellectual depth and political critique. She reveals the film to be both a great work of art and a product of the time and place in which it was made.

This is the first paperback edition. It is the only biography of Barbarossa — a legendary and important historical figure. Ernle Bradford was a widely respected historian and author of many, now classic, books.Admiral, naval hero, privateer, warrior and empire-builder, Kheir ed-Din or Barbarossa, as he was known in the West, was a legendary figure. Born on Lesbos in Greece, he rose to become High Admiral of the Ottoman Navy, Sultan of Algiers and friend and advisor to Suleiman the Magnificent.His life dominated the history of the Mediterranean in the 16th century. From the moment that he and his brother, Aruj, established themselves on the North African coast, the pattern of life and trade in the Mediterranean changed forever and for nearly 300 years after it was affected by the activities of raiders from what came to be called the Barbary Coast. His achievements in re-organising the Ottoman Navy and his command of it helped the expansion of the Turkish Empire that threatened all of Europe. When he died, Turkish records for the year recorded 'The King of the Sea is dead'.In this definitive biography, Ernle Bradford has brilliantly recreated Barbarossa's remarkable life alongside a vivid portrayal of the Ottoman and Mediterranean worlds at this thrilling moment in history.

As a political idea, federalism — the concept that democratic government should be divided between different tiers — has been subjected to a negative and even hostile treatment by sections of both the establishment and the media in Britain. For some years, a popular misconception has been promoted that federalism and federal thinking are alien to British tradition. Yet history reveals a very different picture. The federal constitution of the USA was created by British citizens influenced above all by British political ideas. From Australia and Canada to India and Germany, the legacies of British origin or influence have been federal constitutions.In this new book, leading federalist proponents explore the theoretical and practical areas in which Federalism has made a significant contribution towards the construction of the European Union. It also shows how the European Union may now offer Britain an effective route for achieving a number of its most important policy goals both at home and abroad.

Will the United Nations survive the convulsions over the US-led attack on Iraq and its aftermath? How will it respond to the worldwide threat of terrorism? This book shows these crises as the latest chapter in the struggle for peace and stability and analyses the negative and positive aspects of the organization. While focusing on a post-Soviet world now firmly set in the turbulent 21st century, the book traces the genesis of the current major concerns facing the UN back to their origins. It sets out a full account of UN security (peacebuilding) doctrine and action; of disarmament strategies; of its criminal juristiction; of human rights issues; of globalization and poverty contradictions; and of UN financing worries. The book explores how the UN works and describes how the tension between the elite Security Council and the all-inclusive General Assembly can frustrate further action.

Dalai Lama holds the key to China's ambitions. For this extraordinary individual, who for almost his entire life has been the spiritual leader of his people, holds his country's destiny — and with it China's prestige — in his hands. But who is the Dalai Lama? What is the secret of his allure and his immense moral authority? Instantly recognizable by millions, his personality yet remains elusive. Longstanding exile, religious mentor, accomplished writer and skilful diplomat, his many guises seem only to add to his mystique. In a thoroughly researched and richly anecdotal biography, Mayank Chhaya strips away the multiple layers of the Dalai Lama's personality. He reveals the man behaIf Tibet is the stubborn weak link in China's drive for recognition and respect as a world superpower, then the ind the public face and, based on many exclusive personal interviews, uncovers the hidden contexts which have shaped his subject's beliefs, politics and ideals. The result is a compelling profile of the god-like figure who, at the age of two, was revealed to the world as the reincarnation of his predecessor before becoming one of the era's most romantic political celebrities. Crucially, the author assesses how the current unrest in Tibet will determine China's long-term future and sheds fresh light on a dangerous and simmering relationship. The book will be essential reading for anyone who follows world affairs, for those with an interest in the explosive interaction between religion and politics in contemporary Buddhism and spirituality, and for those who are irresistibly drawn to the mesmorising figure that is the Dalai Lama himself.

It has long been acknowledged that in America the car is king. However, America's car-orientated and car-dependent lifestyle goes beyond the culture of fast cars and freeways. In «Addicted to Oil», Ian Rutledge explores the political, economic and social ramifications of the motorisation of the US economy. He argues that America's dependence on the car has created a lifestyle leading to oil needs which have heavily influenced US foreign policy in the modern era. Rutledge traces the origins of America's addiction throughout the twentieth century and explains how America's relations with the Middle East were developed through its quest for energy security. America's motorisation and its consequent demand for oil at predictable market prices was and continues to be an important influence on US policy towards Iraq — especially given the uncertainties relating to what has so far been the securest source of Middle East oil — Saudi Arabia. Ian Rutledge argues that the war in Iraq was neither a war for 'freedom' or 'democracy' nor was it a plot to 'steal Iraq's oil', but rather an attempt to establish a pliant and dependable oil protectorate in the Middle East which would underwrite the soaring demand from America's hyper-motorised consumers. «Addicted to Oil» is the first book to undertake an in-depth analysis of the motorisation of US society which explicitly links it to America's foreign policy adventures, past and present. «Addicted to Oil» is essential reading for an understanding of America's international political priorities and its fraught relations with the Middle East.

Queen Victoria fell in love with the Riviera when she discovered it on her first visit to Menton in 1882 and her enchantment with this 'paradise of nature' endured for almost twenty years. Victoria's visits helped to transform the French Riviera by paving the way for other European royalty, the aristocracy and the very rich, who were to turn it into their pleasure garden. Michael Nelson paints a fascinating portrait of Victoria and her dealings with local people of all classes, statesmen and the constant stream of visiting crown heads. In the process, we see an unexpected side to Victoria: not the imperious, petulant, mourning widow but rather an exuberant girlish old lady thrilled by her surroundings. Queen Victoria and the Discovery of the Riviera is an absorbing and revealing account that makes an important contribution to both our understanding of Victoria's character and personality and our view of the late Victorian period.

How was it possible for one middle-aged Saudi millionaire to have threatened the world's only superpower? This is the question at the centre of Jonathan Randal's riveting account of Osama bin Laden's role in the rise of terrorism in the Middle East. Randal — a journalist whose experience of the Middle East spans the past forty years — makes clear how Osama's life epitomized the fatal collision between the twenty-first century West and the Islamic world. His investigations into the history of 'Al-Qaeda' produce all kinds of surprises, such as the real sources of Osama's money, and the possibility that Osama offered the Saudis his band of radical Islamist fighters to drive Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait in 1991. In this latest edition, Randal explores the background and ideologies of Al-Qaeda and its leader. With his long-maintained sources in the Middle East and his intimate understanding of the region, Randal gives us a clearer explanation than any we have had of why, where and how the world's most feared terrorist operated.

France and the Netherlands have said no to the European Constitutional Treaty. The reasons for this no were varied. In addition to domestic political motives, contradictory fears were in play. Some thought the Treaty brought with it 'too much Europe'. Some thought it did not bring enough Europe. Others, particularly in the Netherlands, were protesting against the supposed cost of Europe. Yet others thought that the European Union's enlargement has gone ahead much too quickly. What is the next step? Europe is at a crossroads. But the choice is simple. Should we let Europe shrivel to a simple free trade zone, as some wish? Or do we take up again the European challenge and create a genuinely political Europe, a Europe that can play a role in the world; a Europe with the capacity to modernise its own economy and respond to the economic developments coming from China, India and Japan. The Belgian Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt does not mince his words. He wishes to create a 'United States of Europe', with all member states of the European Union participating if possible, with a group of 'pioneers' if necessary. His book is required reading for anyone who cares about Europe.

In the dark twilight of fifteenth-century Europe, the overriding question was how to survive the misery and suffering and violence that seemed to be rushing the world to its end. The answer that came was the conquest of Paradise. 'Christopher Columbus' arrival on a small Bahamian island in 1492 is often judged to be a defining moment in the history of mankind, changing forever the map of the world. The discovery of the Americas opened up horizons and previously unimagined possibilities for the dark and troubled Old World, which greedily plundered its natural wealth and decimated its indigenous populations. Columbus has been both venerated as the great Discoverer and despised as the progenitor of centuries of aggressive colonisation and the destruction of fragile cultures. Now, 500 years after his death in the heart of Castille, comes a fresh reassessment of the man and his legacy. Kirkpatrick Sale uniquely examines the global consequences of the Discovery, revealing the colossal impact this brief moment in history had on a continent and on the world.

In the 1960s and '70s, the overland route from Europe to Asia became popular with disillusioned Westerners seeking what they saw as the paradise of the East. Their journeys are now the stuff of travel legend. Road to Katmandu is the story of Patrick Marnham's own pilgrimage from Turkey to Nepal in 1968. He travelled over three thousand miles, passing through Ankara to Ararat, Tehran and Mashad, Herat, Kandahar and Kabul, Peshawar, Lahore and Varanasi... before finally reaching Katmandu. His journey is a kaleidoscopic blend of tortuous train journeys and lethal truck drives; wild deserts, mountains and isolated villages. At heart this is the story of a generation that was escaping from the routine of conventional life and of how it found — or lost — its way. It provides an alluring insight into the nature of the 'hippie trail' and of those who forged it, before cheap air travel shrank the world. Road to Katmandu is an extraordinary testimony to the seductive beauty of the overland trail and a tribute to those who formed its ragamuffin cavalcade — a travel classic.

A first-hand account of the leading Islamist group, this book promises extensive coverage in news media. It is essential reading for all concerned with the phenomenon of political Islam. Since the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in early 2005, Lebanese politics has been plunged into a new era. Will Syrian withdrawal send the country back into civil war? How will the seismic political shifts underway affect the stability of the region? At the centre of the turmoil stands one player that will affect the outcome more than any other: Hezbollah. Hezbollah, or the 'Party of God', is one of the most powerful and the most misunderstood forces in Middle Eastern politics. In this new edition of her acclaimed book, Judith Harik explains what it actually believes in, what its real relationship with other regional players is, and in what direction it is heading. Hezbollah arose amidst the chaos of the Lebanese civil war to resist the Israeli invasion of 1982. Based amongst the poor Shi'ite population, it takes its inspiration from the Iranian revolution and the teachings of Ayatollah Khomeini. Today Hezbollah's military wing controls the major fault-line of the Middle East: the Lebanese-Israeli border. To the US, Hezbollah represents one of the most dangerous terrorist networks in the world. In Lebanon, it is a democratically elected party within the Lebanese parliament, backed not just by Shi'ites, but by Christians and secular Muslims. To the wider Arab world, Hezbollah is a legend: the only Arab fighting force to have defeated Israel, forcing its withdrawal from south Lebanon in 2000. Harik draws on her considerable first-hand experience of the movement to tell the story of how a clandestine, radical militia transformed itself into a seemingly moderate and mainstream player in the Lebanese political arena. She looks at key questions: why do so many non-Shiites support them? Who controls the movement — the Mullahs, or the grassroots? Harik's penetrating analysis helps us make sense of fast-moving events as the future of Lebanon — and the region — hangs in the balance.

This is an account of Soviet documentary output during the years between the Great October Socialist Revolution and the Great Patriotic War. Graeme Roberts re-views the examples of Soviet, and world, non-fiction cinema, like The Man With the Movie Camera and The Fall of the Romanovs, and uncovers many intriguing films. He discusses the careers of the men and women who made them, including Vertov, Shub, Medvedkin and Karmen, and investigates the problems of analysis and context, offering insights into that context. The text demonstrates how, through looking as the history of Soviet non-fiction film, it becomes possible to gain insight into the agencies that shaped Soviet culture and history under Stalinist regime into and beyond the 1930s.

As surreal images become ever more common through the ease of computer manipulation, the place in history occupied by Surrealism and the Surrealists can easily be lost to sight. This challenging re-evaluation of the status and use of photographic images in historical Surrealism puts Surrealism's fundamental issues back into the framework of its historical purpose and function. David Bate examines automatism and the photographic image, the Surrealist passion for insanity, ambivalent use of Orientalism, use of Sadean philosophy and the effect of fascism of the Surrealists. The book is illustrated wtih a wide range of surrealist photographs.

Genghis Khan was the legendary founder of the Mongol empire and one of the greatest warrior-rulers in history. His armies breached the Great Wall of China and captured Peking. They crushed all resistance in Central Asia, Afghanistan, Persia and Southern Russia by ruthless massacres and pillage. Between 1237 and 1242 they invaded Europe. The speed and scale of their conquests — and the gruesome mounds of skulls they left behind them — have ensured Genghis Khan a place in the popular imagination. Paying particular attention to the Mongol invasion of Europe, this book analyzes how Genghis Khan was able to unite the primitive Mongol tribes of the harsh Siberian steppes and organize them into highly mobile and disciplined squadrons which he used with devastating effect against his opponents.

The role of Bomber Command in World War II is still shrouded in mystery. This book provides a new and revisionary narrative of the campaign, serving as both a military history and an investigation into how modern perceptions of Bomber Command have come about. It shows why Bomber Command — in one of the largest and bloodiest campaigns of the war with 55,000 aircrew lost — has received so much attention yet remains a lost sheep among British wartime glories, and is still dogged by controversy.

Russia's rich and varied tradition of enameling can be placed within the context of one of the earliest and most widely practiced forms of decoration. In the 11th century, Kiev closely adhered to the Byzantine traditions in producing the first Russian enamels. Progress was interrupted by the Mongol invasions in the 13th century. There was, however, a revival of the arts in the 16th century, and during the 17th century the Kremlin Armory in Moscow and various northern trading centers emerged as major bases for the manufacture of liturgical and secular enamels, while the program of westernization initiated by Peter the Great in the early 18th century attracted foreign artisans who brought their own techniques to the capital, St Petersburg. The 19th century closed with a dichotomy of styles: classicizing, courtly traditions flourished in St Petersburg, as demonstrated in the art of pre-eminent master Carl Faberge. However, Moscow served as the heart of the Russian Revival movement, and the vibrantly colored and exotic-looking revival enamels are also prized by collectors today. The enamels illustrated are from three sources: The Walters Art Gallery established in Baltimore by Henry Walters who patronized the Faberge firm in St Petersburg in 1900, the Hillwood Museum in Washington, D.C., housing Mrs Marjorie Merriweather Post's superb holdings of Russian and French 18th — and 19th-century decorative arts, and a private collector who has explored every aspect of the Russian Revival movement.

The KINO Russian Cinema series has been expanding to provide students and general readers with readable, companion handbooks to important and interesting films of Russian cinema from its beginnings to the late 1990s. This volume investigates the production, context and reception of the film Battleship Potemkin, the people who made it, and the film itself, including its place in Russian and World cinema.

The story of Soviet film in the period covered by Peter Kenez is central to the history of world cinema. The author explores the roots of Soviet cinema in the film heritage of pre-Revolutionary Russia; the changes in content, style, technical means, and production capacities generated by the Revolution of 1917; the constraints on form and subject imposed from the 1930s in the name of Socialist Realism; the relative freedom of expression accorded to film-makers during World War Two; and the extraordinary repression during the final years of the Stalin era.