Author: Barak Mendelsohn File Type: pdf Although terrorism is an age-old phenomenon, jihadi ideology is distinctive in its ambition to abandon the principle of state sovereignty, overthrow the modern state system, and replace it with an extremely radical interpretation of an Islamic world order. These characteristics reflect a radical break from traditional objectives promoted by terrorist groups. In Combating Jihadism Barak Mendelsohn argues that the distinctiveness of the al-Qaeda threat led the international community to change its approach to counterterrorism. Contrary to common yet erroneous conceptions, the United States, in its role as a hegemon, was critical for the formulation of a multilateral response.While most analyses of hegemony have focused on power, Mendelsohn firmly grounds the phenomenon in a web of shared norms and rules relating to the hegemons freedom of action. Consequently, he explains why US leadership in counterterrorism efforts was in some spheres successful, when in others it failed or did not even seek to establish multilateral collaborative frameworks. Tracing the ways in which international cooperation has stopped terrorist efforts, Combating Jihadism provides a nuanced, innovative, and timely reinterpretation of the war on terrorism and the role of the United States in leading the fight against al-Qaeda and its affiliates.ReviewThis is a provocative and important study of contemporary terrorism and counterterrorism it is, in many ways, the best attempt yet to locate these phenomena within general international-relations theory and the workings of the international system. Mendelsohn not only provides a compelling explanation for variation in the degree of international cooperation against terrorism, but also makes an important contribution to how we theorize the institutions of international society.(Daniel H. Nexon,GeorgetownUniversity 20090202)In this magnificent, deeply researched, and compelling book, Barak Mendelsohn succeeds in two difficult tasks. He provides a nuanced and richly detailed analysis of the rise of global jihadism and of the counter-strategies that states have adopted to defend themselves.Equally important,Combating Jihadism makes a major theoretical contribution by explaining the data within the framework of the English School of International Relations. This engaging book lifts the theoretical level of scholarship on terrorism to new heights.(Peter J. Katzenstein, Walter S. Carpenter, Jr. Professor of International Studie 20090302)In Combating Jihadism, Mendelsohn not only demonstrates a (Allen Carlson, Cornell University 20090319)2010 Outstanding Academic Titles, Choice(Choice ) About the AuthorBarak Mendelsohn is assistant professor of political science at Haverford College and a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

Author: Alice H. Amsden File Type: pdf The American government has been both miracle worker and villain in the developing world. From the end of World War II until the 1980s poor countries, including many in Africa and the Middle East, enjoyed a modicum of economic growth. New industries mushroomed and skilled jobs multiplied, thanks in part to flexible American policies that showed an awareness of the diversity of Third World countries and an appreciation for their long-standing knowledge about how their own economies worked. Then during the Reagan era, American policy changed. The definition of laissez-faire shifted from Do it your way to an imperial Do it our way. Growth in the developing world slowed, income inequalities skyrocketed, and financial crises raged. Only East Asian economies resisted the strict prescriptions of Washington and continued to boom. Why?In Escape from Empire, Alice Amsden argues provocatively that the more freedom a developing country has to determine its own policies, the faster its economy will grow. Americas recent inflexibilityas it has single-mindedly imposed the same rules, laws, and institutions on all developing economies under its influencehas been the backdrop to the rise of two new giants, China and India, who have built economic power in their own way.Amsden describes the two eras in Americas relationship with the developing world as Heaven and Hella beneficent and politically savvy empire followed by a dictatorial, ideology-driven one. What will the next American empire learn from the failure of the last? Amsden argues convincingly that the worldand the United Stateswill be far better off if new centers of power are met with sensible policies rather than hard-knuckled ideologies. But, she asks, can it be done?