History of South Africa: From 1902 to the Present, is a work that appeals not only to academics and students but also to readers interested in gaining insights into the history, politics, economy, and culture of the Republic of South Africa ..read more

This book holds a distinctive position within the limited field of Islamic finance studies in Africa, offering unique contributions such as solutions, policy recommendations, and strategies for addressing Africa’s development challenges through Islamic finance. However, the book also exhibits certain weaknesses and areas for improvement. Firstly, considering it covers an entire continent, more case studies and comprehensive coverage across Africa were expected, which the book unfortunately does not fulfill. An approach covering the state of Islamic finance in each African country individually ..read more

Pollack’s Armies of Sand provides important insights about the wars and Arab armies in the Middle East since 1945. Hence, it is a must-read for those who want to learn about the political history of the Middle East. In the book, Pollack analyses the state of Arab armies, exposing their shortcomings and failures. In this endeavor, he draws comparisons between nations like Vietnam and North Korea, which adopted similar Soviet doctrines. However, geographical features of these countries (such as mountains and rivers) which should be taken into account for strategy matters are ignored ..read more

Water and Conflict in the Middle East have made several contributions to the literature on the hydropolitics of the Middle East. Firstly, it discusses concepts and subjects, such as transboundary aquifers, groundwater resources, and the weaponization of water from new perspectives. Secondly, it focuses on the newly emerging non-state actors that have influenced the hydropolitics in the region, such as the ISIS and KRG. Thirdly, it has concentrated largely on the current hydropolitical developments in the Middle East, such as the Yemeni water crisis and GERD ..read more

This book significantly contributes to understanding economic issues from a global perspective, dissecting them into separated factions. As monitored by the editors, these comprehensive studies assist the public in comprehending not only the nature of economic matters but also the historical processes that led to their manifestation. Achieving such depth and insight requires prolonged periods of rigorous analysis, emphasizing the importance of delving extensively into the subject matter to attain a comprehensive understanding ..read more

A gripping book, The Declassification Engine: What History Reveals About America’s Top Secrets will appeal to anyone with a curiosity in American politics, government and archives as well as the declassification of any kind. However, the author can be subject to criticism on two specific aspects: First, the book is generally intriguing but gives the impression of being a mere accumulation of information. Likewise, it is evident that some sections include a significant amount of repetition. Furthermore, Connelly is highly concerned about the preservation of freedom of information. Nevertheless ..read more

This book provides a quite satisfying overview of the use of nationalism as a tool for gaining power and interests in post-Soviet countries including Russia. In this respect, it is a primary source for those interested in contemporary nationalism studies and those who wish to become proficient in this field ..read more

The book aims both to reveal the political, economic, and institutional nexus in foreign policy approaches in line with geopolitical interests and to understand how South Korea’s foreign policy approach to the Middle East is shaped within the U.S. alliance ..read more

Why Bharat Matters offers a comprehensive overview of India’s foreign policy strategies and their implications for its future role. The book is a valuable resource for readers seeking to understand India’s position on the world stage, with analyses of historical context and current global dynamics. It provides a thorough examination of how India has risen as both a regional and global actor. The book’s analysis and commentary focus solely on economic achievements and national strengths, neglecting important sociological aspects such as social dynamics and changes within the country. India’s ri ..read more

China and the Indo-Pacific: Maneuvers and Manifestations is the volume that provides the readers with an all-encompassing view of the state of the art in the Indo-Pacific region. It entails a wide range of perspectives, including those of global powers, regional ones and even those of island nations. However, despite the width of its scope, it omits China’s interactions with some vital parts of Asia, such as Russia and Central Asia; which would further enrich this volume ..read more