Book recommendations thread

gaf1983 · 17-12-2008 6:01pm

paddyblue wrote: »

Some great titles suggested here - one or two of which i've been meaning to read...
But these are mostly specific books - does anyone know of good books that give a general oversight/introduction into the following topics:

1) Political Ideologies/Theories.
I have a very limited understanding of Politics - when I hear people talking about Left/Right, Liberalism/Convervatism, Socialism, etc then I'm lost. I'd like to have a basic understanding of this. I've researched some books on amazon but most of them are quite large texts (400 - 500 + pages) and seem to be aimed more at politics students.
If there is a 'bluffers guide' to politics thats written in 'laymans' terms that anyone knows of then please suggest. Suggestions for any relevant web-sites on this topic are also welcome.

I don't think you can stray too far wrong with Politics by Andrew Heywood.

While it is aimed at politics students, it is usually used in an introduction to the subject. Contains lots of boxes and features with explanations of the various terms, also profiles key figures in the history of political thought. The book also has a companion website:

http://www.palgrave.com/foundations/heywood/index.html

sink · 22-12-2008 4:28pm

Mod Edit December, 2015:

As the forums have been merged, this thread can now be used for all useful links to international political institutions, good primer articles on international situations etc

Thread Rules:

Scofflaw wrote:

Please don't link directly to campaign material. Links like Almanac's are fine, because they're links to organisations. Links to information are fine too. Links that go directly to a page of slogans are not OK without discussion, and this is not a discussion thread.

Just sites, please - if you want to start a discussion, start a discussion thread.

To help boards users get better informed I thought it worthwhile to compile a list of websites with pertinent information on the European Union. I'll start it off with a few of my favourites and I'll add more if people make recommendations.

Europa.eu

Official website maintained by the European Commission. Contains information on current EU institutions and policies.

European Navigator

Interactive website focusing on the history of the European Union as well as information on it's current structure. It has many multimedia elements including video & audio.

Dublin European Institute

Contains many research & analysis papers on Europe from UCD's DEI.

The Institute of International and European Affairs

More research & analysis papers on European as well as International issues.

News Sites

Euobserver.com
Eubusiness.com
Euronews.net
EUX.TV

Blogs

Mark Mardell's BBC Euroblog - General European issues
Financial Times Brussels Blog - General European issues
Grahnlaw - EU law
EU Law Blog - EU Law

Eurosceptic2008 · 22-12-2008 6:11pm

Euobserver.com.
Eubusiness.com.

WooPeeA · 23-12-2008 4:08am

http://www.euronews.net/
http://eux.tv/

Yellow Stars blog is written by pro-European American, studying European Studies in Milwaukee.
http://blog.yellow-stars.com/

Debate Europe is a forum held on EU servers, available in all languages and for all.
http://europa.eu/debateeurope/index_en.htm

European political parties:

Conservatives:

European People's Party (EPP)
http://www.epp.eu/

Socialists:

Party of European Socialists (PES)
http://www.pes.org/

Communists:

European United Left–Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL)
http://www.guengl.org/

Eurosceptics:

Intependence and Democracy (ID)
http://www.indemgroup.org/

EUDemocrats - (EUD)
http://www.eudemocrats.org/

National conservatives:

Union for Europe of the Nations (UEN)
http://www.uengroup.org/

Liberals:

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)
http://www.alde.eu/

European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (member of ALDE)
http://www.eldr.eu

Greens:

European Greens–European Free Alliance (Greens-EFA)
http://www.greens-efa.org/European

Green Party (member of Green-EFA)
http://www.europeangreens.org

European Free Alliance (member of Green-EFA)
http://www.e-f-a.org

Pan-Europeans:

Europe United (EUP)
http://www.europeunited.eu

Newropeans
http://www.newropeans.eu/index.php?lang=en

Europe Democracy Esperanto (EDE)
http://e-d-e.org/?lang=en

Libertas Party
http://www.libertas.eu

evercloserunion · 23-12-2008 4:23am

EU law blog: http://eulaw.typepad.com/eulawblog/

sink · 24-12-2008 10:27pm

I left out probably the best place to start for anyone who is unfamiliar with the EU. The Wikipedia Portal:European Union.

fugazied · 20-02-2009 1:43am

"Voltaires Bastards" by John Ralston Saul. It details the evolution of the notion of rationalism, as well as the impact that the various strains have on politics and society. Eg. how we have been programmed to accept economic rationalism as a primary goal in our society instead of actually looking after one another. The financial 'cost' of a health care system is too much to bear in some countries like the US while the human cost of people dying untreated in the street is acceptable.

Funglegunk · 09-05-2009 12:55am

If you can get over the self-congratulatory (for bringing up an allegedly 'taboo' subject) and dreary tone of the writing, 'The Israel Lobby' gives a fairly detailed account of how much clout pro-Israel groups have in influencing American foreign policy.

Just be wary that they attribute much of the blame for the invasion of Iraq to that same lobby, which I'm told is a fairly wild claim to make.

gaf1983 wrote:

These are the ones I’d like to read in the near future – has anyone read them and if you have what did you think of them?

...

‘Mao’ by Jung Chang

I read this monster of a book last year. Fascinating and chilling. Mao was the closest someone can get to being 'inhuman'.

‘Guns, Germs and Steel’ by Jared Diamond

Reading this at the moment. What did you think of it?

moore · 12-05-2009 11:30am

This one is good for lists & info on those running in the upcoming European elections. www.micandidate.ie

Zuiderzee · 13-05-2009 12:53am

Just thoughts of a pro European independent against the Lisbon treaty

http://citizensimon.blogspot.com/

Hope you enjoy it

Comments, suggestions, supporters and critics welcome

Borstal Boy · 23-05-2009 8:45am

The Introducing series of books give an overview of various topics in a very easy to digest format.

They cover a great variety of topics including politics, political philosophy and Keynesian economics.

http://www.iconbooks.co.uk/intro.cfm

USE · 03-06-2009 9:10pm

You can add http://www.presseurop.eu/ . It is new pan-European news project, that will be available in all of the EU official languages in about 5 years.

conchubhar1 · 10-06-2009 2:18am

maybe if someone could post links to the lsibon treaty up

i would but i downloaded off the various sites - and forgot to keep the link.....

PopeBuckfastXVI · 10-06-2009 10:39am

conchubhar1 wrote: »

maybe if someone could post links to the lsibon treaty up

i would but i downloaded off the various sites - and forgot to keep the link.....

Full text of Lisbon Treaty:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:C:2007:306:SOM:EN:HTML

Consolidated Versions of 'The Treaty on The Functioning of the European Union' and 'The Treaty on European Union' as ammended by the Treaty of Lisbon
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/showPage.aspx?id=1296&lang=en

Official EU Lisbon Treaty Site
http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/index_en.htm

Almanac · 03-08-2009 12:45am

Other websites:

The No 2 Lisbon 2 site

Better Than Lisbon

National Platform

EU abc (EU dictionary)

People's Movement

Wheely · 09-08-2009 9:10pm

The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein, one of the best I've read tbh, very well researched and while she makes one or two tenuous analogies it is a brilliant book.

The Corner by David Simon and Ed Burns. Without doubt in my top ten non-fiction I've ever read. Phenomenal.

Jk_Eire · 11-08-2009 2:49pm

www.talktoeu.ie

Good, and brief break downs of the EU's role in Ireland. They'll also be holding a series of nationwide events.

Martin 2 · 11-08-2009 3:09pm

This site is useful for anyone looking for EU statistics, including inflation, unemployment, birth rate, GDP etc etc..... for the EU as a whole and for individual countries.

Eurostat: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/eurostat/home

Almanac · 14-08-2009 8:09pm

Some more websites:

Internationalist democracy campaigning group opposed to the Lisbon Treaty:

http://www.democracymovement.org.uk/

A think-tank arguing for a less centralised EU:

http://www.brugesgroup.com/

Campaign against Eurofederalism:

http://www.caef.org.uk/

European Referendum campaiging group:

http://www.erc2.org/

Sam Lord · 29-08-2009 6:49pm

I'm currently reading "The Family: The secret fundamentalism at the heart of American power" by Jeff Sharlet. It is a study of how an extremely well organised and very wealthy group of American christian right wingers influence US government policy.

"They insist they are just a group of friends, yet they funnel millions of dollars through tax-free corporations. They claim to disdain politics, but congressmen of both parties describe them as the most influential religious organisation in Washington. They say they are not Christians but simply believers.

Behind the scenes at every National Prayer Breakfast since 1953 has been The Family, an elite network dedicated to a religion of power for the powerful. Their goal is "Jesus plus nothing." Their method is backroom diplomacy. The Family is the startling story of how their faith - part free market fundamenatalism, part imperial ambition - has come to be interwoven with the affairs of nations around the world."

This book is dynamite. Extremely well researched.

Galwaybuzz · 03-09-2009 10:05am

Hi There

talktoeu.ie is another site that informes people on the EU's role in Ireland.

They also have a bebo page that one can ask questions and they will reply with the answer.

The username is talktoeu.

Scofflaw · 04-09-2009 1:11am

Just sites, please - if you want to start a discussion, start a discussion thread.

moderately,
Scofflaw

Elba101 · 09-09-2009 12:05pm

Easy to understand Europe and Lisbon Treaty website

www.europeanmovement.ie

Scofflaw · 09-09-2009 12:30pm

Meant to include this one:

www.lisbonexposed.org

Although, of course, being about the Treaty and nothing else, it's probably irrelevant at this stage!

cordially,
Scofflaw

Scofflaw · 19-09-2009 2:05am

Please don't link directly to campaign material. Links like Almanac's are fine, because they're links to organisations. Links to information are fine too. Links that go directly to a page of slogans are not OK without discussion, and this is not a discussion thread.

moderately,
Scofflaw

RexMundi · 25-09-2009 10:02pm

I finished reading through the Lisbon Treaty a while ago and wrote a quick summary of what it entails. I thought I might post it here in case it may help someone make an informed decision on the Lisbon Referendum.

http://tinyurl.com/lisbonguide

The Volt · 27-09-2009 8:25pm

Anyone curious about the social charter/workers rights should have a look at these media releases from the charter group.

http://www.thechartergroup.ie/ContentBuilder/DisplayPage/CG_Media_Releases.html

Sam Vimes · 28-09-2009 10:27am

Wow, that's deceptively convincing.

The heart of the Lisbon Treaty is a change in the way member states vote in the Council of Ministers. Small member states like Ireland will halve its vote. Germany will double its share of the vote.

Scofflaw wrote: »

It's been pointed out repeatedly that this is false. We have two voting weights under Lisbon - population (0.8%) and 1 state vote (3.7%). Under Nice, we have three voting weights - population (0.8%), 1 state vote (3.7%), and negotiated votes (7/349 = 2%). The comparison being made by the No campaigns is of the negotiated vote to the population vote - but one is not being replaced by the other. Our composite voting weight under Nice is 2.167% (0.8+2+3.7/3), our composite voting weight under Lisbon is 2.25% (0.8+3.7/2).

Can migrant workers be paid less?
According to the treaties the EU has no say on salaries. But the EU Court in Luxembourg has decided that migrant workers can work for much less than the normal pay.

Read about the rulings in the euabc under Laval, Rüffert, Viking and Luxembourg.

They have no say on salaries but they have said that migrant salaries can be less

Can the EU decide new taxes?
Taxes can only be harmonised when all member states agree. But the Lisbon Treaty introduces a new clause in Art. 113 TFEU permitting the EU to outlaw tax competition in the Internal Market.

Art. 311 TFEU permits the EU to establish new taxes to finance the EU itself.

Read more under Taxes.

SECTION B: TAXATION wrote:

Nothing in the Treaty of Lisbon makes any change of any kind, for any Member State, to the extent or operation of the competence of the European Union in relation to taxation.

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/108622.pdf

Can the EU decide on abortion?
The EU has already decided on abortion. In 1991 the EU Court decided that abortion is an economic service which can be sold freely. The Advocate-General wanted to outlaw the Irish rules on abortion. The EU Court decided to allow them "on balance". Read more under Abortion.

SECTION A: RIGHT TO LIFE, FAMILY AND EDUCATION wrote:

Nothing in the Treaty of Lisbon attributing legal status to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, or in the provisions of that Treaty in the area of Freedom, Security and Justice affects in any way the scope and applicability of the protection of the right to life in Article 40.3.1, 40.3.2 and 40.3.3, the protection of the family in Article 41 and the protection of the rights in respect of education in Articles 42 and 44.2.4 and 44.2.5 provided by the Constitution of Ireland.

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/108622.pdf

orathaic · 29-09-2009 8:49pm

in case anyone hasn't hread of them.
They're some London based think-tank.

I liked their description of realitydiscussion of the lisbon treaty, it seems fairly informative.

http://www.cer.org.uk/pdf/bn_lisbon_22sept09.pdf

southsiderosie · 02-01-2010 10:31am

paddyblue wrote: »

Some great titles suggested here - one or two of which i've been meaning to read...
But these are mostly specific books - does anyone know of good books that give a general oversight/introduction into the following topics:

1) Political Ideologies/Theories.
I have a very limited understanding of Politics - when I hear people talking about Left/Right, Liberalism/Convervatism, Socialism, etc then I'm lost. I'd like to have a basic understanding of this. I've researched some books on amazon but most of them are quite large texts (400 - 500 + pages) and seem to be aimed more at politics students.
If there is a 'bluffers guide' to politics thats written in 'laymans' terms that anyone knows of then please suggest. Suggestions for any relevant web-sites on this topic are also welcome.

2) World conflicts / movements.
I found history terribly boring in schoold so didn't pay much attention. But i've recently read a few books that have stoked my interest in World history (Ryszard Kapuscinski's Imperium & 'The State of Africa' in particular). I'd like to familiarize myself with a brief history of recent significant movements of power & conflicts throughout the World - Lennin/Stalin in Russia; Hitler & WW2; Communism (Mao) in Asia; The Middle East; etc.
If there is a 'one for all' book that covers all of these topics and possibly more then i'd like to hear about it. All suggestions are welcome.

I'm not saying that I don't want to read about any of the above topics in detail - but i'd prefer to arm myself with a general knowledge before reading the more particular/specific books.

I think one of the best books I've read on conflict and political instability is "Political Order in Changing Societies" by Samuel Huntington. It's not a country-specific book; rather it explores why there has been so much political instability and conflict in the developing world, especially in a post-colonial context. He's better known publicly for "Clash of Civilizations", but "Political Order" is his much earlier (and more academically respected) work. He also has a wonderfully straightforward writing style for an academic - I think the opening paragraph is the clearest statement of a political theory I've read in modern political science.

southsiderosie · 02-01-2010 10:45am

There have been some very lively discussions in the politics forum on development and the role of the state over the last few days, so I figured I'd post two of my favorite books on the topic:

"Seeing Like A State" by James Scott looks at state-led development and modernization schemes, and how and when they can go horribly, horribly wrong. One of his major critiques of state policies is that they ignore local knowledge about resource management. This is the general area for which Eleanor Ostrom won the Nobel in Economics for last year, although I have to admit I am not a great fan of her book "Governing the Commons".

"The Elusive Quest for Growth: Economists' Adventures and Misadventures in the Tropics" by William Easterly is probably my favorite book in development economics. Easterly's writing style is easily accessible, and he (unlike, say, Jeff Sachs) is willing to admit where development economics has failed. There is one chapter that provides a rather theoretical overview of the history of prevailing theories in development economics, which may seem somewhat dry, but provide an interesting and important overview of an area in which social scientists who care deeply about the issue in theory have failed miserably in practice.

OldJay · 02-01-2010 11:21am

'Jews in Twentieth Century Ireland' by Dermot Keogh.
Superbly researched history of Jewish people here in Ireland. Some of what he uncovers is disgraceful. Very interesting book.
He also did a book on the 1904 Limerick Boycott, basing it on photostats of newspaper, court and police records.

Steve Coll's 'Ghost Wars' will tell you everything you need to know about Afghanistan from the mid 70s to Sept 10th 2001

Biggest recommendation however is 'Flat Earth News' by Nick Davies. Expertly executed account on the newsmedia (print and broadcast). A MUST-READ.

southsiderosie · 25-03-2010 12:03pm

There has been a lot of discussion in the politics thread lately about innovation. I'd recommend the book "Innovation: The Missing Dimension" by Richard Lester and Michael Piore. The book is loosely organized (I think you can read Chapter 5 before a lot of the cases), but it's basically an argument that rational analysis isn't enough to fuel innovation - there has to be some kind of dynamic interaction between people who think very differently in order to push the limits of new product design and development. They use a few case studies of product development to illustrate their broader point. It's pretty short, and at times it's hard to figure out what they are actually trying to say, but there are very real policy implications that follow if you buy their argument - most of which have little to nothing with what governments today are doing.

Lockstep · 22-05-2010 12:59pm

Sorry if this has been posted already ( didn't see it) but it's very useful for learning how the EU works.

http://europa.eu/abc/12lessons/index_en.htm

simonj · 04-07-2010 11:40pm

Black Mass - John Grey, of all, this is the most important

Everything ever written by Chompsky, twice

God is not great, how religion poisons everything - Hitchens

The Beauty Myth
The End of America
Give Me Liberty - Naomi Wolf

No Logo
The Shock Doctrine - Naomi Klein

Great war for civilisation - Robert Fisk

Dont start the Revolution without me - Jessie Ventura

Consumed - Benjamin Barber

At the Abyss - Thomas Reed

Covering Islam
Culture and Imperialism - Edward Said

State of Africa - Martin Meredith

Das Kapital - Marx

Fast Food Nation
Reefer madness - Eric Schlosser

Rise and Fall of the third reich - Shirer

Gulag - Applebaum

Salt - Mark Kurlansky

The best democracy money can buy - Palast

Beevor and Hornes military histories

Any recomendations on China post 1850, or Soviet Russia are welcome

Jimdagym · 08-07-2010 10:02pm

simonj wrote: »

Great war for civilisation - Robert Fisk

Reading that now, after years of promising i would. Really enjoying it.

Dave! · 08-07-2010 11:33pm

Has Robert Fisk got any books that are less than 1000 pages?

gandalf · 09-07-2010 10:41am

Dave! wrote: »

Has Robert Fisk got any books that are less than 1000 pages?

Here are 3 to start you off with

In Time of War: Ireland, Ulster and the Price of Neutrality, 1939-45 - 693 pages
The Age of the Warrior: Selected Writings - 544 pages
Pity the Nation: Lebanon at War - 727 pages

All on the first page of Amazon when you search for Books by Robert Fisk.

todolist · 18-07-2010 10:40pm

Churchill,Hitler and the Unnecessary War By Patrick Buchanan.
Day of Reckoning:How Hubris,Ideology and Greed are tearing America apart by Patrick Buchanan.
Two excellent books that are eye-openers written by the best President America never had.

southsiderosie · 21-07-2010 10:11pm

In the wake of the (well, still ongoing) debate around July 12th...

Susan McKay - Northern Protestants: An Unsettled People

Ed Moloney - Voices from the Grave: Two Men's War in Ireland

simonj · 22-07-2010 5:01pm

Jimdagym wrote: »

Reading that now, after years of promising i would. Really enjoying it.

I had to skip the chapter on Algeria, to brutal and dark, other than that great book

whatawaster · 23-07-2010 2:35pm

In the middle of “The Blair Years” the diaries by Alistair Campbell.

Very interesting read. Great insight into all the different characters involved with New Labour (or at least how Campbell perceived them)
Highly recommended

RATM · 30-09-2010 3:39pm

Anyone know of an Irish political almanac, like something that is published after every election and gives details of TDs , senators, etc?

Anonymous1987 · 30-09-2010 9:57pm

Two very good introductory books I've read recently.

"Twentieth Century Ireland" by Dermot Keogh gives a good overview of political and social events in the last century.

"Politics in the Republic of Ireland" edited by John Coakley and Michael Gallagher but with chapters written by many other authors gives an excellent overview of the workings of the Irish political system.

Anonymous1987 · 30-09-2010 10:03pm

RATM wrote: »

Anyone know of an Irish political almanac, like something that is published after every election and gives details of TDs , senators, etc?

This and this might be useful? Don't know of any publications though.

invinciblePRSTV · 03-10-2010 4:43pm

RATM wrote: »

Anyone know of an Irish political almanac, like something that is published after every election and gives details of TDs , senators, etc?

Irish Political Studies has what you seek, all for €99 per year.

Scofflaw · 13-11-2010 7:27pm

We've long had a policy of removing all petitions, calls to action, surveys, announcements of political meetings and new parties, etc etc, on the basis that they're not really appropriate to a discussion forum because they don't really generate discussion.

However, as per the "in the news" thread, it seems more reasonable to give such posts a permanent home, since they may well be of interest to posters.

So, if you are posting such things, this is now where you should post for them. If you're interested in them, this is where you should look, because this is where the mods will be sweeping them when people inevitably fail to do it themselves.

cordially,
Scofflaw

kilns · 18-11-2010 10:34am

I believe now is the time for people to act

This country needs to be taken in a new direction by people who care about this country and not their own careers

A new party must be formed. The strong and willing must be taken from each facet of life to bring this country out of the hole it is in

Fianna Fail as a party are finished, however there are some good people there and if given the chance could help bring the country through

Likewise with FG, Labour and the Greens

We need to dump these career politcians like Cowan, Harney, Gilmore, Kenny, Burton etc.... who's only aim is to get as far as they can for personal gain. They are not interested in the country only their own careers

We need people who will straight talk tell us exactly how it is and what they will do to fix it not avoid the question. People would have a lot more respect for someone who will stand up and tell the truth. We are all sick of FF denying it was their fault or FG and Labour not saying what they will do so that they will get in next time

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT.

Who is with me!

ednwireland · 18-11-2010 10:45am

kilns wrote: »

We need to dump these career politcians like Cowan, Harney, Gilmore, Kenny, Burton etc.... who's only aim is to get as far as they can for personal gain. They are not interested in the country only their own careers

and replace them with ? ............................ career politicians

the system is broken a new party will make no difference (greens pd's anyone) the only solution i can think of is limit td's to 3 terms

Lockstep · 18-11-2010 10:47am

Meh, these threads appear every few weeks so I'm fairly sceptical by this stage.