Power and privilege

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Andrew Wilson

"This book provides a guide to modern Ukraine and to the versions of its past propagated by both Russians and Ukrainians. It concentrates on the complex relationship between Ukraine and Russia, beginning with the myth of common origin in the early medieval era, then looking closely at the Ukrainian experience under the Tsars and Soviets and the path to independence in 1991. Wilson also considers the history of Ukraine since 1991 and continuing disputes over identity, culture and religion. He examines the economic collapse under first president Leonid Kravchuk and the attempts at recovery under his successor Leonid Kuchma, and explores the conflicts in Ukrainian society between the country's 'Eastern' roots and its Western aspirations."--BOOK JACKET.

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Hugh Goddard

The relationship between the Christian and Muslim worlds has been a long and tortuous one. Over the course of the centuries the balance of power has swung in pendulum fashion--at times the initiative seems to have lain with the Muslim community, with the Christian world simply being compelled to react to developments outside itself, while at other points the opposite has been true and Muslims have found themselves having to respond to Christian challenges in different forms. Today Christians and Muslims comprise the world's two largest religious communities. Although they can coexist fairly peacefully, at times they still engage in violent confrontation, such as in the recent conflicts in Bosnia and the Sudan. This book investigates the history of the relationships between Christians and Muslims over the centuries, from their initial encounters in the medieval period, when the Muslims were the dominant group, through to the modern period, when the balance of power seems to have been reversed. This much-needed overview of the Christian-Muslim encounter places the emphasis on the context within which perceptions and attitudes were worked out and provides a depth of historical insight to the complexities of current Christian-Muslim interactions on different continents.

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Satish Chandra

Collection of seminal essays on evolution of state, role of towns and urbanism in medieval period; includes India's martime tradition.

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Adam Freedman

"Liberals believe that "states' rights" is merely a smokescreen for racist repression. What we have forgotten is that the Constitution itself is a compromise between state and federal governments--a compromise the Federal government no longer respects. Historically, the doctrine of states' rights has been a powerful engine of prosperity and a protector of American freedoms. Conservatives need to reclaim states' rights as an honorable tradition, and a necessary component of constitutional government"--