John M. Thompson – författare

The nature of the US political system, with its overlapping powers, intense partisanship, and continuous scrutiny from the media and public, complicates the conduct of foreign policy. While numerous presidents have struggled under the weight of these conditions, Theodore Roosevelt thrived and is widely lauded for his diplomacy. Roosevelt played a crucial role in the nation's rise to world power, competition with other new Great Powers such as Germany and Japan, and US participation in World War I. He was able to implement the majority of his agenda even though he was confronted by a hostile Democratic Party, suspicious conservatives in the Republican Party, and the social and political ferment of the progressive era. The president, John M. Thompson argues, combined a compelling vision for national greatness, considerable political skill, faith in the people and the US system, and an emphasis on providing leadership. It helped that the public mood was not isolationist, but was willing to support all of his major objectives-though Roosevelt's feel for the national mood was crucial, as was his willingness to compromise when necessary. This book traces the reactions of Americans to the chief foreign policy events of the era and the ways in which Roosevelt responded to and sought to shape his political environment.Offering the first analysis of the politics of foreign policy for the entirety of Roosevelt's career, Great Power Rising sheds new light on the twenty-sixth president and the nation's emergence as a preeminent player in international affairs.

This book is a brief, lucid account of Russian and Soviet history from ancient Kievan Rus' to the present day. Equal attention is paid to the early and the modern periods of Russian history. The author has revised this new edition to include the dramatic changes in the Soviet Union and its foreign policy during Gorbachev's first five years in office. The text is supplemented with maps and illustrations and includes bibliographies at the end of each chapter. Designed for use by students in either a one- or two-semester introductory course in Russian history, Russia and the Soviet Union will also be valuable to any reader seeking to become acquainted with the story of the Russian people—their tribulations and courage, tragedies and triumphs, and their remarkable contribution to world culture.

This book is a brief, lucid account of Russian and Soviet history from ancient Kievan Rus' to the present day. Equal attention is paid to the early and the modern periods of Russian history. The author has revised this new edition to include the dramatic changes in the Soviet Union and its foreign policy during Gorbachev's first five years in office. The text is supplemented with maps and illustrations and includes bibliographies at the end of each chapter. Designed for use by students in either a one- or two-semester introductory course in Russian history, Russia and the Soviet Union will also be valuable to any reader seeking to become acquainted with the story of the Russian people—their tribulations and courage, tragedies and triumphs, and their remarkable contribution to world culture.

This lucid account of Russian and Soviet history presents major trends and events from Kievan Rus’ to Vladimir Putin’s presidency in the twenty-first century.Directly addressing controversial topics, this book looks at issues such as the impact of the Mongol conquest, the paradoxes of Peter the Great, the “inevitability” of the 1917 Revolution, the Stalinist terror, and the Gorbachev reform effort. This new ninth edition has been updated to include a discussion of Russian participation in the War in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, Russia’s role in the Syrian civil war, the rise of opposition figure Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin’s confirmation as “president for life,” recent Russian relations with the United States, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the European Union as well as contemporary social and cultural trends. Distinguished by its brevity and supplemented with substantially updated suggested readings that feature new scholarship on Russia and a thoroughly updated index, this essential text provides balanced coverage of all periods of Russian history and incorporates economic, social, and cultural developments as well as politics and foreign policy.Suitable for undergraduates as well as the general reader with an interest in Russia, this text is a concise, single volume on one of the world’s most significant lands.

This lucid account of Russian and Soviet history presents major trends and events from Kievan Rus’ to Vladimir Putin’s presidency in the twenty-first century.Directly addressing controversial topics, this book looks at issues such as the impact of the Mongol conquest, the paradoxes of Peter the Great, the “inevitability” of the 1917 Revolution, the Stalinist terror, and the Gorbachev reform effort. This new ninth edition has been updated to include a discussion of Russian participation in the War in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, Russia’s role in the Syrian civil war, the rise of opposition figure Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin’s confirmation as “president for life,” recent Russian relations with the United States, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the European Union as well as contemporary social and cultural trends. Distinguished by its brevity and supplemented with substantially updated suggested readings that feature new scholarship on Russia and a thoroughly updated index, this essential text provides balanced coverage of all periods of Russian history and incorporates economic, social, and cultural developments as well as politics and foreign policy.Suitable for undergraduates as well as the general reader with an interest in Russia, this text is a concise, single volume on one of the world’s most significant lands.

This book describes disagreements among the diplomats in Paris over the Russian problem, and it analyzes Allied policy toward Russia as it developed at the conference and led into a halfhearted intervention in Russia in 1919. It covers the period from the Armistice until January 1920. Originally published in 1967. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

This book describes disagreements among the diplomats in Paris over the Russian problem, and it analyzes Allied policy toward Russia as it developed at the conference and led into a halfhearted intervention in Russia in 1919. It covers the period from the Armistice until January 1920. Originally published in 1967. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Can enlightenment be attained through words? Understanding Prajñā addresses this perennial issue in the study of mysticism through the work of Sengzhao (374-414), a Buddhist scholar-monk whose essay on prajñā («wisdom») created a sensation in early medieval China. Drawing on contemporary hermeneutic theory, this book presents a close reading of Sengzhao’s work, placing it in proper context while highlighting his masterful techniques for conveying «wisdom» beyond ordinary language. Understanding Prajñā includes translations of Sengzhao’s essay and his correspondence with Liu Yimin, a «hermit-scholar» who yearned to grasp the Buddha’s sage wisdom.

This lyrical adventure sweeps us through time and across Europe and the Middle East, charting the lands and events of the period known as the Middle Ages. Artworks, maps, and fine photography illuminate the key events of every century, beginning with the fall of the Roman Empire in A.D. 476 and moving forward to A.D. 1500 - the beginning of the age of discovery. Vibrant text from author John M. Thompson captures the drama and intrigue of the era, exploring wars, migrations, occupations, and inventions. Three hundred illustrations - antique paintings, magnificent portraits, illuminated manuscripts, and historical documents such as "Magna Carta" and the "Domesday Book" - lend rich immediacy. More than 60 maps, among them specially commissioned illustrated presentations and a lavishly drawn crusader map from A.D. 1170, chart important routes and events including the spread of Christianity and Islam. Twelve richly illustrated spreads chronicle the amusements, clothing, feasts, science, books, animals, and other aspects of daily life in the Middle Ages.Voices of the medieval world come alive through quotations from literature, letters, and journals that have survived the passage of time. Sidebars in every chapter examine important beliefs, arts and letters, architecture, and innovations. Biographical features introduce fascinating women and men, revealing the stories behind famous names like King Arthur, whose legend is noted in medieval Welsh literature. Joan of Arc, the teenage French peasant whose infamous trial is documented word for chilling word. Charlemagne, 8th-century ruler of an empire that encompassed Western and Central Europe. Saladin, sultan of the Arab world and enemy of the crusaders, yet respected by them for his high standards of chivalry. And his foe, Richard the Lionhearted, iconic king of England who spent most of his life elsewhere. In a unique feature that helps readers trace the march of time and progress, a world-class city is highlighted to exemplify the character and developments of each century. These key urban areas include London, Paris, Barcelona, Constantinople, and Damascus.Their histories are traced on fascinating time lines that also tie in global happenings during the century, for a rich overview of world events and progress. Painstakingly designed for accuracy and ease of use, "The Medieval World" is a fine reference for libraries, schools, families, and all who find fascination in this pivotal yet mysterious era of world history.

Politics and religion have been major forces throughout history, and they still are as anyone who pays attention to current events can see. Understandably, the relationship between religion and politics calls for careful and ongoing scholarly exploration. At the same time, global centers of economic and military power are shifting from being concentrated in the West (Europe and North America) to areas in Asia, the world’s largest landmass and home to the bulk of the world’s population. Indeed, the twenty-first century is already shaping up to be the «Asian century». Perhaps not surprisingly, just as in the West, so in Asia, societies have been – and are still being – shaped by religious and political forces. Sacred Matters, Stately Concerns: Faith and Politics in Asia, Past and Present examines the complex and intertwined nature of «politics» and «religion» in diverse cultures within Asia, ranging from China and Japan to Indonesia, Pakistan, and India. By their very nature, the essays included here defy easy generalizations about the nature of religion in various societies, forcing us to rethink, and, one hopes, pushing us beyond staid assumptions. Certainly, these essays challenge prevailing views of national/political boundaries in Asia (and by extension elsewhere), and highlight the fact that the «separation of Church and State», a hallmark of the American political system, has rarely been observed in other places and times. Sacred Matters, Stately Concerns is suitable for use in a variety of courses on Asian history and politics as well as surveys of Asian culture and international relations and comparative/world religion and philosophy courses.

Offers essential perspectives on the Cold War and post-9/11 eras and explores the troubling implications of the American tendency to fight wars without end.“Featuring lucid and penetrating essays by a stellar roster of scholars, the volume provides deep insights into one of the grand puzzles of the age: why the U.S. has so often failed to exit wars on its terms.”— Fredrik Logevall, Laurence D. Belfer Professor of International Affairs, Harvard UniversityVietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan: Taken together, these conflicts are the key to understanding more than a half century of American military history. In addition, they have shaped, in profound ways, the culture and politics of the United States—as well as the nations in which they have been fought. This volume brings together international experts on American history and foreign affairs to assess the cumulative impact of the United States’ often halting and conflicted attempts to end wars.From the introduction:The refusal to engage in historical thinking, that form of reflection deeply immersed in the US experience of war and intervention, means that this cultural amnesia is related to a strategic incoherence and, in these wars, the United States has failed in its strategic objectives because it did not define, precisely, what they were. If Vietnam was the tragedy, Iraq and Afghanistan were repeated failures. The objectives and the national interests were elusive beyond issues of credibility, identity, and revenge; the end point was undefined because it was not clear what the point was. What did the United States want from these wars? What did it want to leave behind?

Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan: Taken together, these three conflicts have not only defined American military history over more than half a century, but have also inescapably shaped the culture and politics of the United States-as well as the nations in which they have been fought. This volume brings together international experts on American history and foreign affairs to assess the cumulative impact of the United States' often halting and conflicted attempts to end wars. It offers essential perspectives on both the Cold War and post-9/11 eras and demonstrates just how high the stakes are as the US confronts the real possibility of war without end.