Iraq is located in the Middle East and is bordered by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, and Iran. Iraq has a complex history filled with wars and political instability. Iraq gained independence from Great Britain in 1932 and was ruled by a monarchy until 1958 when a military coup led to the establishment of a republic. The country has been led by a variety of different leaders, including Saddam Hussein who came into power in 1979. Hussein led Iraq into a war with Iran from 1980-1988 and later invaded Kuwait in 1990. This led to the Gulf War, which resulted in Iraq’s defeat and the imposition of heavy economic sanctions. In 2003, the United States led an invasion of Iraq and overthrew Hussein’s government. This led to a prolonged period of instability and violence which has continued up until the present day. Iraq’s population is primarily composed of Shiite Muslims with a significant minority of Sunni Muslims as well as Kurds who predominantly reside in the northern part of the country. Iraq has a rich cultural history, with a diverse mix of ancient civilizations, such as the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. The country is also home to many religious sites sacred to both Shia and Sunni Muslims including the cities of Najaf, Karbala, and Samarra. Despite the ongoing conflict and violence in the country, Iraq has made significant progress in recent years towards greater political stability and economic development. However, the country still faces many challenges, such as political corruption, sectarian violence, and the threat of terrorism.

This book focuses on the geopolitics of Central Asia which has emerged as the new fertile ground for oil and energy resources. It analyses the scramble for energy and control over the region by many nations and their diplomatic manoeuvrings to ensure energy sufficiency and economic growth. The book provides a quantitative analysis of the Central Asian energy potential and offers an understanding of the unique position that each country occupies in the geopolitics of oil and energy in the region. It looks at aggressive foreign policies by countries like the US, China, the European Union, Japan, Israel, Iran and Pakistan, focusing primarily on India’s position and strategies in the region within the new great game. The book further examines the dynamics between Central Asia and India and India’s policies for geopolitical engagement and diversification of energy sources. This volume will be of interest to researchers and students of political studies, international relations, economics, sociology, and Asian studies. It will also be useful for policymakers and professionals working in the field of energy security and geo-economics.

Analyzing major political institutions such as Congress, the courts, the presidency, and the media, this book chronicles how the interests of affluent Americans—particularly business, professional, and corporate interests—dominate over those of "average" citizens. Anthony R. DiMaggio examines American political behavior, as it relates to lobbying, citizen activism, media consumption, and voting, to demonstrate how the public is often misinformed and manipulated regarding major political and economic matters. However, record public distrust of the government and the increasing popularity of mass protests suggest that most Americans are deeply unhappy with the political status quo, and many are willing to fight for change. Political Power in America details this interplay between a political system dominated by the affluent few and the rise of mass political distrust and protest. It offers information and tools needed to better understand the democratic deficit in American politics, while providing opportunities for discussing what we might do to address the mounting crisis of declining democracy.

This volume is dedicated to the memory of Klaus E. Knorr. Thisis fitting for a number of reasons. The collaborative work herewas done under the auspices of the Center of International Studiesat Princeton University, which Klaus Knorr directed from 1961until 1968. The concerns of this book are to analyze the relationshipsamong economic and military power and national security; to explorethe ways economic power and economic decline relate to internationalhegemony; and to examine our understanding of concepts such aspower, security, and burden-sharing. These concerns ranked highon Klaus Knorr's research agenda during his productive and fruitfullife.

impact of economic Sanctions : 2nd report of session 2006-07, Vol. 2: Evidence