Oxford Companion to Politics of the World

FROM OUR EDITORS

The world has seen dramatic changes since the publication of the first edition of The Oxford Companion to Politics of the World in 1993. In the post-Cold War world, globalization now offers wealth and opportunities on a broader scale, as well as greater international harmony, but threatens to reinforce the advantage gap between wealthy and poor regions and intensify environmental degradation. Conflict and squalor—expressed in brutal brushfire wars, epidemics, and chronic underdevelopment—vie with equally dramatic accounts of growth and democracy associated with a liberal political order and the global diffusion of trade, investment, and communications.

Drawing on the breadth of the first edition, this major new edition reflects the changing world with a reassessment of many of the core themes of the Companion, and new articles on the people, concepts, and events that have shaped the world since 1993. The second edition includes biographies of Kofi Annan, Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, and Gerhard Schroder; articles on events such as the Rwandan Genocide and the war in Kosovo; and coverage of international trade developments such as NAFTA and the World Trade Organization. Eighty-seven of the 672 articles in the Second Edition are completely new; most others are thoroughly revised.

This edition also features a substantial new set of articles, a dozen essays on critical isssues written by influential figures. Recognizing the importance of including varying viewpoints, the editors have commissioned these essays to provide an informed and often passionate debate on controversial topics. Discussions include Lani Guinier and Glenn Loury on Affirmative Action; Francis Fukuyama and Milton Fisk on the Limits of Liberal Democracy; and Lloyd Axworthy and John Bolton on the United Nations.

The contributors discuss nearly every nation in the world, including extensive information on institutions, political parties, leaders, and the sources of political mobilization and conflict. The volume also includes biographies of more than seventy-five political leaders and thinkers who have shaped the contemporary political world. Articles include detailed discussions of critical historical developments and events, concepts, international law, and organizations. The Oxford Companion to Politics of the World, Second Edition is an accessible, timely, thought-provoking, and comprehensive reference that captures the complexity and vitality of contemporary world affairs.

About the Editors:Joel Krieger(Editor in Chief) is Norma Wilentz Hess Professor of Political Science, Wellesley College. Editors are Margaret E. Crahan (Hunter College), Lawrence R. Jacobs (University of Minnesota), William A. Joseph (Wellesley College), Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja (Howard University and United Nations Development Programme), and James A. Paul (Global Policy Forum).

ANNOTATION

With the end of the Cold War, the world has turned into a political cauldron of unprecedented complexity. Edited by a team of eminent political scientists, this fully up-to-date reference provides more than a thousand pages of alphabetically-arranged entries on virtually every aspect of politics around the globe. 6 maps.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Will the end of superpower rivalry bring greater international harmony - or more volatile and dangerously unpredictable conflicts? Where two massive spheres of influence once divided the globe, now regional conflicts erupt into scenes of tragedy and confusion. In Africa, the new Europe, Asia, and the Americas, nations chart a bold course toward democracy. But they cannot break free of old divisions, as ethnic nationalism emerges amidst economic devastation. Indeed, nations everywhere, however powerful, are buffeted on every side. Their sovereignty is checked by the global economy as well as powerful regional economic and political blocs. At a time of exceptional ferment, Oxford is pleased to present the most authoritative, timely, in-depth reference available for understanding the people, nations, conflicts, movements, institutions, and issues that dominate the world political stage. Edited by a team of eminent political scientists, The Oxford Companion to Politics of the World provides readers with the depth of coverage, the historical contexts, and the richness of interpretation needed to come to terms with today's volatile international scene. Drawing on the insights of nearly 500 authors from more than 40 countries, the volume provides comprehensive coverage of international affairs and domestic politics throughout the world. Articles discuss virtually every nation in the world, and include extensive information on institutions, political parties, leaders, and the sources of political mobilization and conflict. The volume also includes biographies of more than seventy-five political leaders and thinkers who have shaped the contemporary political world, and detailed discussions of critical historical developments and events, concepts, international law, and organizations. For example, there is a biography of Richard M. Nixon by Garry Wills and one of Winston Churchill by Martin Gilbert; an essay on Claude Ake; an article on human rights by Aryeh Neier; cover

FROM THE CRITICS

Congressional Affairs Press

An absolutely indispensable guide for anyone who wishes to understand the changing face of politics in this new and often baffling world.

Library Journal

The aim of this ambitious one-volume encyclopedia is to provide a ``comprehensive guide to international relations and national domestic policies throughout the world,'' with a clear emphasis on post-World War II events. An impressive international assortment of nearly 500 contributors has prepared 650 mini-essays that are similar in format and scope to those found in other Oxford companions. However, the editors promise that this volume features ``cutting-edge interpretation and analysis'' of the current situation in world politics. Within one alphabetical arrangement are found essays on every country; brief biographies of political leaders and intellectual figures (e.g., George Kennan, Franz Fanon, Malcolm X, Vaclav Havel); 21 broad interpretive essays (covering, for instance, democracy, elites, class and politics, war, and gender and politics); concepts; treaties; forms of government; historical events; issues; and organizations. Many of the essays cover very specific topics--e.g., AIDS, genocide, tribalism, Tiananmen Square, Chernobyl, Roe v. Wade , the domino theory, contras, gay and lesbian politics--and provide a solid starting point for further research. Each essay contains a brief bibliography, and cross-references proliferate throughout the volume. A detailed index (not seen) will further enhance the usefulness. Among the contributors are several well-known names (e.g., Robert Dahl, Martin Gilbert, Seymour Martin Lipset, Garry Wills, Todd Gitlin, Zhores Medvedev) and two recent Clinton appointees, Anthony Lake (on the Vietnam War) and Robert Reich (on deindustrialization). Combining the best elements of many standard reference works (e.g., Europa World Yearbook , Dictionary of American Politics ), this volume will become indispensable for all academic libraries.-- Thomas A. Karel, Franklin & Marshall Coll. Lib., Lancaster, Pa.

BookList

This new work focuses on such broad themes and topics as the social basis of politics, national and international organizations and institutions, law, foreign policy, economic and social policy, links between international and domestic issues, and the politics of change. The companion accomplishes its goals through 650 entries by 500 scholars from more than 40 countries. These articles vary from short, factual pieces to essays of more than 4,000 words. In addition to articles on virtually every country in the world and approximately 100 persons who, according to the editor, "played exceptionally significant roles in contemporary political life," the work features 21 major analytical essays addressing such topics as ethnicity, gender and politics, war, and race and racism. Finally, the companion includes three long, interpretive essays on comparative politics, international politics, and comparative law One of the strengths of this work is its coverage of the conflicts and issues that are headlines in the news, both today and in the recent past. For instance, in the three pages devoted to "Yugoslavia", one can learn the history of the country, the ideology of the competing factions, and pertinent facts about the current crisis, including events as recent as the initiation of the Serbian assault on Bosnia-Herzegovina in April-May_ 1992. In the two and one-half pages of "Liberation Theology", the reader not only learns of the concepts, writings, and key individuals, but also of its relationships with the Vatican as well as with the politics of Latin American countries over the last three decades Articles are arranged alphabetically, with blind entries referring the user from the terms not used to those that are. For example, a reader seeking information on abortion is referred to "Reproductive Politics", and on Abdel Nasser to "Nasser, Gamal Abdel". Many articles include "see also" references, and starred terms within articles alert the reader to other topics; for instance, in "Cabinet Government" there are references to "Commonwealth" and "France" Each entry is signed, and most include brief lists of bibliographic citations to monographs or important periodical articles. Contributors, with their credentials, are listed in the front of the book. Information is current through fall 1992. Although there are exceptions, coverage--particularly of individuals--is concentrated on post-World War II. The work is not illustrated but does include six black-and-white maps of world regions that show country boundaries and capital cities. A comprehensive index lists names, concepts, and subjects While the scope of the companion is broad, there are some omissions. Eleanor Roosevelt is mentioned only in passing within the article on her husband. Excluded are articles on broadcasting (particularly television), telecommunications, advertising, and the computer revolution (although that topic is implied in "Technology Transfer"). The politics of sport--specifically of the Olympic Games--is another issue not discussed. Included are articles on Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and the Roman Catholic Church that deal with the political effects of the adherents' beliefs, but the work omits specific papers on Judaism or Christianity. Jewish issues are treated in "Antisemitism", "Arab-Israeli Conflict", "Holocaust", and "Israel", but there is no analysis of the Jewish lobby's effects on U.S. politics or on international relations These omissions, however, do not detract from this useful work, which would have grown beyond one volume if all possible topics were included. As it is, the companion will be consulted for authoritative information on international issues and organizations, domestic conflicts in countries around the globe, forms of government and institutions, historical events, and biographical sketches of persons important in international affairs. "The Oxford Companion to Politics of the World", at a reasonable price, will be welcome in public and academic libraries.

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