Publications Review 26.04.2013

In this issue you will find: Foreign Intervention in Africa,  What to Read on the Caucasus,  Syrian chemical weapons,  Australian defense policy,  Boston Marathon bombing,  Globalization,  Turkey's Policy in the Middle East and North Africa.

Cambridge University Press has announced the start of sales of the new book by Elizabeth Schmidt from Loyola University Maryland. The book titled “Foreign Intervention in Africa. From the Cold War to the War on Terror” chronicles the foreign political and military interventions in Africa from 1956 to 2010, during the periods of decolonisation and the Cold War, as well as during the periods of state collapse and the 'global war on terror'. The book can already be pre-ordered and will be available for purchase at Cambridge University Press web-page in May 2013.

Foreign Affairs publishes “What to Read on the Caucasus” reading list by Charles King (Georgetown University). It provides an overview of both fiction (including such classic examples of Russian literature as A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Lermontov and Haji Murat by Leo Tolstoy) and non-fiction books on the topic. The list will be of great use to everyone interested in Caucasus.

In his article published by the 4th Media Stephen Lendman analyzes recent claims on Syrian chemical weapons use and argues that it is just an excuse for intervention to Syria, just like alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction by Saddam Hussein was an excuse for in 2003 intervention in Iraq.

In another article published by the 4th Media Prof. Murray Hunter, in the light of upcoming publishing of 2013 Australian defense white paper, gives his opinion on how recent developments in Asia, such as rising assertive China and the US adopting an ”Asia Pivot” doctrine will affect Australian defense policy.
 

In one of the latest articles published by Other News Pepe Escobar from Asia Times analyzes different versions of what stimulated Tsarnaev brothers to bomb Boston Marathon. And how this bombing, as well as reaction to it by government official, can affect international reputation of the US.

In another article at Other News Ramesh Jaura (IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis) shares his thoughts on globalization and its effect on developing countries. Jaura quotes recent OECD study ‘Economic Globalisation: Origins and Consequences’:

“Globalisation first promoted the development of industrialised countries, then, in the past 20 years, that of emerging countries. While some developing countries are following in their footsteps, others have become marginalised or weakened by opening to international markets. Extreme global poverty has diminished, but is still ingrained in certain regions. In many countries, inequalities have deepened. Globalisation can only promote development if certain political conditions are combined.”

The Paris-based International Policy and Leadership Institute and Turkish Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) on the 24th of May jointly published its 9th Turkey Policy Brief. The brief, written by Mesut Özcan, is dedicated to "Turkey's Policy towards the Middle East and North Africa after the Arab Spring". The brief places Turkey’s reaction to the Arab Spring within the broader trends in international politics as well as the regional geopolitical trends. It analyzes the manner in which Turkey approached the Arab Spring and how its policies have affected Ankara’s position, both domestically and in the region. It argues that after facing political difficulties and suffering economic losses during the transition period, Ankara is now increasingly keen to develop friendly diplomatic and economic relations with new administrations in these countries.