Andrew Thomas - Böcker

This book explores non-Western approaches to foreign policy in the context of Iran in order to encourage wider consideration of non-Western scholarship in international relations.Throughout its existence IR has drawn primarily on Western thought and experience, leaving other perspectives on the periphery of discourse. As the field becomes more about contexts beyond the West, this has become a challenge for creating a truly ‘global’ field of study. Concepts like ‘national interest,’ ‘rationality’ and ‘pragmatism’ are often applied to Iran without considering what these concepts mean in the context of Iranian political identity. The aim of this book is to highlight the contemporary relevance of native Iranian and non-Western perspectives to IR analysis, returning complexity and critique to Iranian studies. To do this, the author examines four of Iran’s political encounters with the West, including its resistance to sanctions policy and negotiations surrounding its nuclear program. Ultimately, the book argues that ignoring Iranian motivations of identity has routinely resulted in missed opportunities, growing tensions and failed coercive policy.The book will prove valuable reading for students and researchers interested in international relations theory, Iranian history and Middle East studies.

This book explores non-Western approaches to foreign policy in the context of Iran in order to encourage wider consideration of non-Western scholarship in international relations.Throughout its existence IR has drawn primarily on Western thought and experience, leaving other perspectives on the periphery of discourse. As the field becomes more about contexts beyond the West, this has become a challenge for creating a truly ‘global’ field of study. Concepts like ‘national interest,’ ‘rationality’ and ‘pragmatism’ are often applied to Iran without considering what these concepts mean in the context of Iranian political identity. The aim of this book is to highlight the contemporary relevance of native Iranian and non-Western perspectives to IR analysis, returning complexity and critique to Iranian studies. To do this, the author examines four of Iran’s political encounters with the West, including its resistance to sanctions policy and negotiations surrounding its nuclear program. Ultimately, the book argues that ignoring Iranian motivations of identity has routinely resulted in missed opportunities, growing tensions and failed coercive policy.The book will prove valuable reading for students and researchers interested in international relations theory, Iranian history and Middle East studies.

This book addresses the distance between contemporary philosophical critiques of education and the classroom context by applying new insights from social philosophy, neurology and historical analysis to common school practices.Critiquing contemporary academic and political debates concerning the use, and misuse, of assessment tools, psychometric testing and classroom management on pupils, this book looks in detail at the consequences of such practices for pupil management and the nurturing of their emerging democratic voices and sense of independence. This book explores these practices in the context of broader social phenomena such as the state of exception, management for legibility, self‑regulation, governmentality and epidemiology. Chapters link critical and philosophical considerations about politics, administration and the brain to real‑world classroom realities and everyday educational activities, forming an important contribution to the wider discourse on learning and inclusion in contemporary school systems.Bringing philosophical and historical insights to bear on the concrete practices of educational life, this book will be of interest to scholars, researchers and postgraduate students in the field of philosophy of education as well as schooling, classroom practice, and pedagogy and didactics more broadly.The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC-BY-SA) 4.0 license.

Published to coincide with the 80th birthday of the Spitfire, this is the combat history of one of the most iconic planes ever built as it pushed on from the successes of the Battle of Britain and took the fight to the Germans over the Channel between 1941–43.80 years after the Spitfire was first developed it remains an icon of military aviation. Though many associate its victory during the Battle of Britain as the high point in the history of the Spitfire, the years following were of equal importance. Having weathered the initial storm, at the start of 1941 Fighter Command took the fight to the Germans with offensive missions over the Channel.This book reveals how first using the Spitfire I and II, and then following the introduction of the Bf 109 the cannon-armed Spitfire V, RAF squadrons embarked on a range of missions which included one of the most important air battles of the war, over Dieppe on 19 August 1942. Alongside British pilots were squadrons manned by exiled Europeans and pilots from the RAAF, RCAF and RNZAF.In just three years over 100 of these pilots were to rack up ace status in the Spitfire.

Allied fighter pilots began encountering German jets – principally the outstanding Me 262 fighter – from the autumn of 1944.Stunned by the aircraft’s speed (close to 200mph faster than the best Allied piston-engined fighters of the period) and rate of climb, it took USAAF and RAF units time to work out how to combat this deadly threat as the Luftwaffe targeted the medium and heavy bombers attacking targets across the Reich. A number of high-scoring aces from the Eighth Air Force (Drew, Glover, Meyer, Norley and Yeager, to name but a few) succeeded in claiming Me 262s, Me 163 and Ar 234s during the final months of the campaign, as did RAF aces like Tony Gaze and ‘Foob’ Fairbanks. Featuring the exploits of both famous and little-known pilots, this engaging book details how they pushed their P-47s, P-51s, Spitfires and Tempests to the limits of their performance in order to down the Luftwaffe’s ‘wonder weapons’.

The 10th edition of Introduction to Financial Accounting provides comprehensive coverage of all the fundamental accounting techniques and practices required by the IFRS, IAS and the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting. The authors bring the subject to life with stimulating discussions that encourage strategic thinking about the influence that accounting has on economic decision-making and its impact on society. This new edition embraces a contemporary approach whilst retaining its renowned concise and student-friendly chapters. Packed with real-world examples, practical content, worked examples and exercises, this essential resource keeps students engaged while enhancing their understanding of complex accounting theory. Key features include: oCoverage of the latest developments in International Accounting Standards (IAS), International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting. oA new chapter on Public Accountability giving background on who accountants should prepare accounts for and what should be included. oNew accounting insights to provide practical examples of how issues are handled in real-world scenarios. oNew contemporary issues in accounting to make students aware of the emerging issues and innovations that contemporary accountants must consider. oUpdated real world examples highlighting European and International accounting scenarios, demonstrating the tangible impact of accounting theory. oLearning activities, worked examples and end-of-chapter assessment material that offer students opportunities to practice key concepts and techniques.  Anne Marie Ward is a Professor of Accounting in the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics at Ulster University. She is also a qualified Chartered Accountant and previously taught professional courses for Chartered Accountants Ireland for 15 years. Andrew Thomas is former Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at the University of Birmingham. Mike Farrell is a Lecturer in Accounting at University College Cork. He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and possesses a number of years industry and practice experience.  

This book examines the effects that land-use changes (notably agricultural intensification, logging, soil erosion, urbanisation and mining) have on soil characteristics and processes in tropical and savannah environments. It covers a range of geographical regions and environments as impacts of land use change are often site specific. The effects of land use change on various aspects of the soil ecosystem from both a chemical and biological perspective will be examined.

Shortly after the Allied landings in France the Germans unleashed the first of their so-called ‘revenge weapons’, the V1 flying bomb.Launched from specially constructed sites in northern France, the fast, small, pulse-jet powered pilotless aircraft were aimed at London with the sole intent of destroying civilian morale to the point where the British government would be forced to sue for peace. This dangerous new threat drew an immediate response, and the Air Defence of Great Britain (as Fighter Command had been temporarily renamed) established layers of defence that included a gun line and balloon barrage.The main element, however, were standing patrols by the fastest piston-engined fighters available to the RAF – the new Tempest V and Griffon-powered Spitfire XIV. Other types were allocated too, most notably the Polish Mustang wing, while night defence was left in the capable hands of several dedicated Mosquito squadrons. Although pilotless, the V1 was no easy foe thanks to its speed, powerful warhead and sheer unpredictability.Nevertheless, 154 pilots became V1 aces, 25 of whom were also aces against manned aircraft.

In the bitter air fighting over Western Europe during the last year of the war, no fewer than 37 pilots became aces flying Merlin-engined Spitfires, whilst 72 other aces increased their scores flying them.This book traces the achievements of the pilots flying the iconic Spitfire in Northwest Europe, and examines how the steady technological improvements that were made throughout the Spitfire’s service life improved its capabilities in the air. Based at airfields throughout southern England, Merlin engine Spitfires provided the bulk of the air cover for the D-Day landings and it was an RCAF Spitfire which claimed the first ever ME 262 jet kill.36 colour profiles covering a broad spectrum of nationalities, units, pilots, theatres and markings complement thorough research throughout this comprehensive account of these crucial fighter aircraft.

Deemed unsuitable for the Channel Front, lend-lease Tomahawks and kittyhawks instead became the staple fighter of the Desert Air Force in 1941-42, flying with RAF, South African and Australian squadrons in North Africa and the Middle East. Although usually outclassed by the Bf 109, a number of pilots enjoyed some success during the desert campaign - men like Caldwell, Gibbes, Edwards and Drake, all of whom accrued double figure scores, In the Far East, Australian and New Zealand pilots also saw much action against the Japanese in 1942/43, flying over the jungles of New Guinea in defence of the Australian mainland.

Never before has a single volume been devoted exclusively to the intrepid and disparate band of pilots who could claim to be Gladiator aces. Flying the ultimate British biplane fighter, pilots in China, Finland, East Africa, North Africa, Western Europe, the Mediterranean, Norway and the Middle East all scored the prerequisite five kills to become aces. The first individuals to do so were fighting marauding Japanese fighters and bombers attacking targets in China in 1938. The likes of Sheen, Tuck and Carey will also be featured in this volume, as they were among the many early war acers who cut their teeth in Fighter Command on the Gladiator.

The Hurricane was the RAF's first monoplane fighter, and saw widespread service with Allied forces. This book describes its many feats throughout 1945. Used as a fighter-bomber on the Channel coast, the Hurricane was flown by numerous squadrons in Fighter Command, including the American Eagles and Polish units. Some of the highest-scoring aces to fly the Hurricane saw action in this theatre. The Fleet Air Arm also used the Sea Hurricane as its principle fighter in the Mediterranean, creating a handful of aces. In the Far East, Hurricane units failed in their attempt to defend Singapore and Malaya from the Japanese but continued to take the fight to the enemy from bases in India and Ceylon. The Hurricane was still in the frontline in this theatre in 1945.

Entering service at the end of the Battle of Britain, the pugnacious Bristol Beaufighter was deployed in numbers by Fighter Command just in time for the start of the Luftwaffe's night 'Blitz' on Britain. Flown by specialised nightfighter squadrons - several of them elite pre-war Auxiliary Air Force units - it was the first nightfighter to be equipped with an airborne radar as standard. Thus equipped, it combined the ability to 'see' the enemy at night with the devastating hitting power of four cannon and six machine guns. This book covers the exploits of the men who made ace in the Beaufighter and includes stunning original artwork together with first hand accounts of the action.

Flown by specialised squadrons, the Mosquito matured into the best British night fighter of World War 2 thanks to the fitment of ever-improving airborne radar, which allowed its crews to hit night intruders and German night fighters alike with speed and the devastating firepower. Its success in combat can be measured by the fact that most leading RAF, Commonwealth and American night fighter aces scored the bulk of their kills in the Mosquito. The aircraft's range and striking power also led to its deployment by RAF Coastal Command as a very effective long -range fighter, and the Mosquito was also deployed overseas in both the night fighter, long-range fighter and strike roles. In total, some 59 pilots became aces flying the Mosquito.

From the inception of the RAF in 1918 the new service developed traditions fast. In particular, its squadrons assumed a combination of heraldic devices and colourful markings with which to identify machines and inspire men.

The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy served with distinction in every theatre of war throughout World War II. From its poorly equipped beginnings - it started the war with few suitable, modern, carrier-born fighters - to the final campaigns over the Japanese home islands, the FAA proved an effective fighting force wherever it went. FAA Pilots had the distinction of being responsible for both the first, and last, enemy aircraft to be shot down during the war. Featuring first hand accounts, combat reports, photographs from private collections and an array of colour plates depicting the range of profiles and symbolic markings that were used, this book will detail the history and combat experiences of these forgotten pilots who served with such distinction for the Allied cause.

The first few American volunteers flew Spitfires with the RAF during the Battle of Britain. Many more joined their ranks, often posing as 'Canadians' eventually forming three 'Eagle' squadrons who earned a fierce fighting reputation. In 1942 the Eagle Squadrons were transferred to the Eighth Air Force and further fighter squadrons were formed which all flew Spitfires. In just two years of service with the USAAF, 22 pilots claimed five or more victories flying the Spitfire, whilst a further two dozen aces claimed part of their total flying them, a testament to their skill and success at the controls of this legendary warbird. Discover the experiences of a variety of American aces in their own words through first-hand accounts, interviews and combat reports, in a thrilling read that transports the reader from the Battle of Britain to the deserts of North Africa to Fortress Europe itself.

The iconic Spitfire's most radical upgrade was the 2000 hp Rolls-Royce Griffon engine. The first variant fitted with this superb powerplant was the Mk XII, entering service in early 1943 and modified for low-level operations to counter Luftwaffe attacks on the south coast. With a redesigned wing and propeller, the Spitfire XIV became the best low level fighter of World War 2. The Spitfire XII and XIV squadrons were moved to south-eastern England in mid-1944 to counter the V1 flying bomb offensive, when Spitfire XIV pilots pioneered the technique of tipping the V1 over with the aircraft's wingtip to disorientate the bomb. After the V1 offensive, most Griffon-Spitfire squadrons became part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force and took a heavy toll of the Luftwaffe in savage combat over the Third Reich.The Griffon-Spitfire also took part in the re-occupation of Malaya and the East Indies and three Spitfire XIV squadrons formed part of the Commonwealth occupation force in Japan until 1948. A later version, the Spitfire FR 18, saw action against various factions in Palestine.Some 14 pilots gained at least five victories on Griffon-engined Spitfires in World War 2, with another 13 aces claiming part of their totals on the type. In addition, 27 Griffon-Spitfire pilots shot down at least five of the dangerous V1 flying bombs to become 'Doodlebug' aces, whilst a large number of established aces flew the type successfully as wing and squadron commanders.

An illustrated description of the famous US Nightfighter aces and their planes.The Americans lagged behind their European contemporaries in military aviation in the late 1930s, and it took the Battle of Britain to awaken America to the necessity of having aircraft that could defend targets against night-time attack by bomber aircraft. This book examines the numerous aircraft types that were used by the US in this role, beginning with the early stop-gap conversions like the TBM Avenger, Lockheed Ventura and the A-20 Havoc (P-70). It goes on to detail the combat history of the newer, radar-equipped Hellcats, Corsairs and Black Widows that were designed to seek out enemy aircraft and which registered most of the kills made by the Navy, Marine Corps and USAAF in 1944–45.With full-colour profiles and rare photographs, this is an absorbing account of an underestimated flying force: the American Nightfighters.

The Curtiss P-36 was considered a revolution in performance design in comparison to other US fighters. Yet, by the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the P-40 was increasingly supplanting the P-36, which the US then exported to France under the guise of the Hawk 75. Flown by the French, captured by the Germans, sold to the Finns, transferred to India and Africa, and even incorporated into the RAF, the Hawk 75 saw service in every theatre of operations and in a variety of combat environments. This book depicts the fascinating life of a plane that fought on both sides in the war, with colour artwork, photographs and first-hand accounts.

The arrival of the Spitfire in Burma came at a crucial time as the RAF struggled against the Japanese to support the Chindit operation on the ground. Proving a huge boost to morale, the Spitfire played a large part in defeating the enemy, and covering the subsequent Allied advance through Burma, protecting the ground troops and providing vital supplies. Covering this little documented aerial war, this book tells the stories of the 54 aces who flew against the Japanese, and also those who fought in India and Australia. Full-colour artwork reveals the markings and paint schemes of this most-famous of British planes, whilst first-hand accounts and archive photographs bring the aerial battles of Burma, India and Australia to life.

Although designed and built for the US Navy, the F2A fought in only one major US engagement, the battle of Midway, in which F2A pilots managed to shoot down a number of Japanese fighters. Soon replaced by the navy, the F2A was exported to Britain, where it was nicknamed the 'Buffalo' thanks to its stubby appearance. The British sent most of these fighters to the Far East where they were used in the defence of Singapore and Malaya.

The P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt were the finest American fighters of World War 2, and both saw service with the RAF in substantial numbers. The RAF began flying the Mustang in 1944, using it to fly bomber escort missions, and deploying to support the ground campaigns in Italy and the Balkans. It was also flown by a number of Polish units in the RAF. The P-47 Thunderbolt was the best fighter available in CBI theatre, where it was flown by a number of aces against the Japanese, mainly in a ground support role. Although these two fighter types are most associated with the Americans, they performed an important role serving in the RAF.

Essential coverage of the key part played by the iconic Spitfire in the desert campaign during 1942-43, and in the destruction of the Luftwaffe in Sicily, Italy and the Balkans from mid-1943 through to VE Day.Although most famous for their role in the Battle of Britain, many Spitfire squadrons also served in the Mediterranean theatre, aiding the Allied victories in North Africa and later in the invasion of Italy. Numerous pilots, both Royal Air Force and South African Spitfire squadrons, made ace during these engagements. This book tells their story.

An illustrated history of three pioneering fighters. The Defiant and the Blenheim enjoying early successes until they came up against the vastly superior Messerschmitt Bf 109, and the American-built Havoc.The Blenheim IF flew some of Fighter Command's early offensive operations, and the type soon proved vulnerable when pitted against single-seat fighters. However, for much of 1940 the Blenheim fighter squadrons provided the RAF's main long-range convoy escort and nightfighter capability. In the mid-1930s, in an attempt to capitalise on its expertise in power-operated gun turrets, the Boulton Paul Company developed the Defiant, a single-engined fighter in which all the armament was concentrated in the turret behind the pilot. Intended as a 'bomber destroyer', the Defiant had its combat debut over Dunkirk, and initially achieved some considerable success.A number of American-built aircraft called Douglas DB-7 light bombers (named Havoc by the RAF), were fitted with radar for nightfighter duties and others successfully replaced the Blenheim as night intruders. As this book outlines, a total of 11 pilots claimed five or more victories when flying these three types to become aces, whilst no fewer than 33 who became aces claimed at least part of their scores when flying the Blenheim, Defiant or Havoc.