- Table View
- List View
Russia's Interventions in Ethnic Conflicts: The Case of Armenia and Azerbaijan
by James J. CoyleThis book explores the thirty-year border conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, specifically around the former autonomous republic of Nagorno Karabakh, and shows how Russia is the only winner in this conflict: fighting on both sides, supplying arms to both sides, and acting as the arbiter between the two sides. The author looks at Armenia, Azerbaijan and the separatists from military, political, economic and diplomatic perspectives, and offers insights on how the fighting has influenced society, and vice versa. The book provides an update to the history of the war to include major fighting in 2020, and examines how Russia obtained three military bases and most economic assets in Armenia, while becoming Azerbaijan's major weapons supplier to the tune of six billion dollars. It shows how Russia has tried to sideline the internationally-supported Minsk negotiations in favor of Russia assuming the sole role of arbiter, and argues that even though Russia has submitted a number of ceasefire proposals, it does little to encourage the sides to implement them. The book includes a discussion of international law, United Nations Resolutions, and rulings by the European Court of Human Rights.
Russia's Path toward Enlightenment: Faith, Politics, and Reason, 1500-1801
by Gary M. HamburgThis book, focusing on the history of religious and political thinking in early modern Russia, demonstrates that Russia’s path toward enlightenment began long before Peter the Great’s opening to the West. Examining a broad range of writings, G. M. Hamburg shows why Russia’s enlightenment constituted a precondition for the explosive emergence of nineteenth-century writers such as Fedor Dostoyevsky and Vladimir Soloviev.
Russia's Plato: Plato and the Platonic Tradition in Russian Education, Science and Ideology (1840–1930) (Routledge Revivals)
by Frances NethercottThis title was first published in 2000. This work identifies the differences between the Russian intellectual approach to reading Plato and that of other European countries. This study offers a complex perspective on Russian philosophical learnings up to 1930. The book contains five chapters with the first aiming to provide the general institutional context in which Russian 19th century Plato scholarship developed, caught as it were, between the rise of the historical sciences and the heavy hand of state interference in standardizing the educational system in the name of nation building and modernization. The second chapter attempts to illustrate how Plato served as a reference in Russian philosophical culture and the third deals with aspects of Russian philosophy of law. In the fourth chapter, the author shifts his approach to compare and contrast a number of reactions to a single dialogue, the "Republic" and in the final concluding chapter, addresses the question of whether it is legitimate to speak of a Russian Platonism.
Russia's Public Diplomacy: Evolution and Practice (Studies in Diplomacy and International Relations)
by Greg Simons Anna A. VelikayaRussian public diplomacy attracts growing attention in the current global climate of tension and competition. However, it is often not understood or is misunderstood. Although some articles and book chapters exist, there are almost no books on Russian public diplomacy neither in Russian, nor in English. This edited collection is an in-depth and broad analysis of Russian public diplomacy in its conceptual understanding and its pragmatic aims and practice. Various aspects of Russian public diplomacy – from cultural to business practices – will interest professors, students and practitioners from various countries. Written by a diverse collection of the most prominent and capable scholars, from academia to international organizations, with a wealth of knowledge and objective experience, this book covers the vital topics and thoroughly analyzes the best practices and mistakes within the broad understanding of public diplomacy conducted by the Russian Federation.
Russia's Unfinished Revolution: Political Change from Gorbachev to Putin
by Michael McfaulFor centuries, dictators ruled Russia. Tsars and Communist Party chiefs were in charge for so long some analysts claimed Russians had a cultural predisposition for authoritarian leaders. Yet, as a result of reforms initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev, new political institutions have emerged that now require election of political leaders and rule by constitutional procedures. Michael McFaul--described by the New York Times as "one of the leading Russia experts in the United States"--traces Russia's tumultuous political history from Gorbachev's rise to power in 1985 through the 1999 resignation of Boris Yeltsin in favor of Vladimir Putin. McFaul divides his account of the post-Soviet country into three periods: the Gorbachev era (1985-1991), the First Russian Republic (1991-1993), and the Second Russian Republic (1993-present). The first two were, he believes, failures--failed institutional emergence or failed transitions to democracy. By contrast, new democratic institutions did emerge in the third era, though not the institutions of a liberal democracy. McFaul contends that any explanation for Russia's successes in shifting to democracy must also account for its failures. The Russian/Soviet case, he says, reveals the importance of forging social pacts; the efforts of Russian elites to form alliances failed, leading to two violent confrontations and a protracted transition from communism to democracy. McFaul spent a great deal of time in Moscow in the 1990s and witnessed firsthand many of the events he describes. This experience, combined with frequent visits since and unparalleled access to senior Russian policymakers and politicians, has resulted in an astonishingly well-informed account. Russia's Unfinished Revolution is a comprehensive history of Russia during this crucial period.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
by Gwendolyn SasseOn 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, giving rise to the deadliest conflict on European soil since the Second World War. How could this happen in twenty-first-century Europe? Why did Putin decide to escalate Russia’s war against Ukraine, a war which began with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014? In this timely book, Gwendolyn Sasse analyses the background to this war and examines the factors that led to Putin’s fateful decision. She retraces the history of Ukraine’s struggle for independence from Russia and shows how democratic developments in Ukraine had become a risk for Russia’s political system. She also shows that ambiguous Western policy towards Russia encouraged elites in the Kremlin to think that they had more room for action than they did. The result is a brilliant analysis of the background to the war, a concise account of the course of the war itself and a timely reflection on what its consequences will be – for Ukraine, for Russia and for the West. An indispensable book for anyone who wants to understand the most dangerous conflict of our time.
Russkij Mir und Anderer Anfang: Alexander Dugins Heidegger-Rezeption als ontologische Rechtfertigung von Russlands kriegerischem Imperialismus
by Paul KlingenbergDie Arbeit befasst sich kritisch mit der Heidegger-Rezeption des Ideologen Aleksandr Dugin. Im Gegensatz zu anderen Interpretationen zeigt Klingenbergs Arbeit auf, dass Dugin ein profunder Kenner von Heideggers Werk ist, das sich auch durch Dugins Vermittlung als hochgradig anschlussfähig für den russischen Faschismus erweist. Zugleich kann eine Kritik dieser Rezeption zu einer Korrektur der in der westlichen Philosophie immer noch wirkmächtigen Apologie eines gewaltsamen, unrettbar mit dem Nationalsozialismus verstrickten Denkens beitragen. Von der „offiziellen“ oder besser gesagt ernstzunehmenden russischen Philosophie wurde Dugins ausführliche Darstellung von Heideggers Philosophie kaum beachtet oder als unseriös abgelehnt. Von daher ist es zu begrüßen, wenn hier eine Arbeit vorgelegt wird, die im Gegensatz zu einer weitgehend positiven Heidegger-Rezeption und -Interpretation in Westeuropa und auch in Russland, wo diese aufgrund der kulturpolitischen Situation in der Sowjetunion erst relativ spät einsetzt, eine Linie in Heideggers Denken aufzeigt, die dessen „völkische“ und latent nationalsozialistische Einstellung nicht als Verirrung oder zeitlich bedingte Einstellung bis zu seiner „Kehre“ einschätzt, sondern als einen Wesenszug seiner grundsätzlich antimodernen, im Grunde faschistischen Philosophie herausarbeitet. (Wolfgang Eismann)
The Ruthless Critique of Everything Existing: Nature and Revolution in Marcuse’s Philosophy of Praxis
by Andrew FeenbergHow Marcuse helps us understand the ecological crisis of the 21st centuryFor several years after 1968, Herbert Marcuse was one of the most famous philosophers in the world. He became the face of Frankfurt School Critical Theory for a generation in turmoil. His fame rested on two remarkable books, Eros and Civilization and One-Dimensional Man. These two books represent the utopian hopes and dystopian fears of the time.In the 1960s and 70s, young people seeking a theoretical basis for their revolution found it in his work. Marcuse not only supported their struggles against imperialism and race and gender discrimination, he foresaw the far-reaching implications of the destruction of the natural environment. Marcuse&’s Marxism was influenced by Husserl and Heidegger, Hegel and Freud.These eclectic sources grounded an original critique of advanced capitalism focused on the social construction of subjectivity and technology. Marcuse contrasted the &“one-dimensionality&” of conformist experience with the &“new sensibility&” of the New Left. The movement challenged a society that &“delivered the goods&” but devastated the planet with its destructive science and technology.A socialist revolution would fail if it did not transform these instruments into means of liberation, both of nature and human beings. This aspiration is alive today in the radical struggle over climate change. Marcuse offers theoretical resources for understanding that struggle.
Rwanda’s Radical Transformation Since the End of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi
by Sheriff F. FolarinThis book discusses the radical transformation of Rwanda, focusing on the dynamics of its society before and after the genocide against theTutsis in 1994. Through contextualizing the significant changes experienced by the country, it throws searchlights on a number of other African states facing similar challenges. The author analyses Rwanda's challenges of nationhood after the genocide; the vision and will of the country’s leadership; its social programs and strategies for cohesion and national development; the population’s resilience; and its growing regional influence in the twenty-first century. Rwandan society is here considered not only through the lens of existing literature on African politics, but also through direct engagement and fieldwork with local populations, scholars and policymakers. In addition, the book weighs in on narratives of survivors and victims of the genocide to understand and present local dispositions to current realities such as reforms, development plans, inclusive policies and programs, and determine how Rwandans deal with historical identity issues and conflicts. This book will be of interest to students, scholars and researchers interested in Rwandan and African politics, peace and conflict studies, security (strategic) studies, and genocide studies.
Ryle on Mind and Language
by David DolbyThis collection is devoted to Gilbert Ryle's philosophy of mind and language. It features essays from prominent scholars on the topics of category mistakes, hypotheticals, dispositions, emotion, thinking, perception, and the task-achievement distinction.
S/Z
by Roland Barthes Richard Miller Richard HowardPreface by Richard Howard. Translated by Richard Miller. This is Barthes's scrupulous literary analysis of Balzac's short story "Sarrasine. "
The Saad Truth about Happiness: 8 Secrets for Leading the Good Life
by Gad SaadThe Quest for Happiness Is a Universal Fact.It is a scientific fact, which means we can measure happiness, we can assess it, and we can devise strategies to make ourselves happy and fulfilled human beings. So says Professor Gad Saad, the author of the sensational bestseller The Parasitic Mind and the irrepressible host of The Saad Truth podcast. In this provocative, entertaining, and life-changing new book, he roams through the scientific studies, culls the wisdom of ancient philosophy and religion, and draws on his extraordinary personal experience as a refugee from war-torn Lebanon turned academic celebrity. In The Saad Truth about Happiness you&’ll learn the secrets to living the good life, including: • How to live the life you want—not necessarily the life expected of you • Why resilience is a key to happiness • Why your career needs to have a higher purpose than a paycheck • Why variety truly can be the spice of life • Why choosing the right spouse is so important • Why Aristotle had it right when he preached moderation • Why you should take a hint from your dog and realize that playfulness equals happiness The Saad Truth about Happiness is as lively, stimulating, and captivating as its author, who has become a "de facto global therapist" to an ever-growing audience of hundreds of thousands of people. Read this book and you&’ll see why so many seek his counsel.
The Sacrality of the Secular: Postmodern Philosophy of Religion
by Bradley B. OnishiThrough a bold and historically rooted vision for the future of philosophy of religion, The Sacrality of the Secular maps new and compelling possibilities for a nonsecularist secularity. In recent decades, philosophers in the continental tradition have taken a notable interest in the return of religion, a departure from the supposed hegemony of the secular age that began with the Enlightenment. At the same time, anthropologists and sociologists have begun to reject the once-dominant secularization thesis, which both prescribed and described the demise of religion in modern societies.In The Sacrality of the Secular, Bradley B. Onishi reconsiders the role of religion at a time when secularity is more tenuous than it might seem. He demonstrates that philosophy’s entanglement with religion led, perhaps counterintuitively, to vibrant reconceptions of the secular well before the unraveling of the secularization thesis or the turn to religion. Through rich readings of Heidegger, Bataille, Weber, and others, Onishi rethinks what philosophy can contribute to our understanding of religion and the wider social and cultural world.
The Sacralization of Time: Contemporary Affinities between Crisis and Fascism (Radical Theologies and Philosophies)
by João Nunes de AlmeidaIn this book, João Nunes de Almeida rethinks the relationship between crisis and fascism in today’s liberal democratic societies. Arguing that fascism has adapted to a post-modern idea of endless crisis, Almeida challenges one of the strongest liberal myths in western politics, namely that fascism and liberal democracy have different roots. Fascism, in Almeida’s view, is at the center of the very production of social relations in western capitalist societies, and is the result of the very desire to be saved from crisis underlying liberal democracy. It draws on stormy examples from Portugal’s contemporary history, with a particular focus on its fascist past and revolution, to explore affinities between crisis and fascism in other spatial and historical contexts. João Nunes de Almeida concludes that refusing to be saved from crisis becomes the refusal of any form of fascism in a more global context.
The Sacrament of Language: An Archaeology of the Oath
by Giorgio Agamben Adam KotskoThis book is a continuation of Giorgio Agamben's investigation of political theory, which began with the highly influential volume Homo Sacer: Sovereign Power and Bare Life. Having already traced the roots of the idea of sovereignty, sacredness, and economy, he now turns to a perhaps unlikely topic: the concept of the oath. Following the Italian scholar Paolo Prodi, Agamben sees the oath as foundational for Western politics and undertakes an exploration of the roots of the phenomenon of the oath in human experience. He rejects the common idea that the oath finds its origin in religion, arguing instead that the oath points toward a particular response to the experience of language, a response that gave birth to both religion and law as we now know them. This book is important not only for readers of Agamben or of continental philosophy more broadly, but for anyone interested in questions relating to the relationships among religion, law, and language.
Sacramental Poetics at the Dawn of Secularism
by Regina SchwartzSacramental Poetics at the Dawn of Secularism asks what happened when the world was shaken by challenges to the sacred order as people had known it, an order that regulated both their actions and beliefs. When Reformers gave up the doctrine of transubstantiation (even as they held onto revised forms of the Eucharist), they lost a doctrine that infuses all materiality, spirituality, and signification with the presence of God. That presence guaranteed the cleansing of human fault, the establishment of justice, the success of communication, the possibility of union with God and another, and love. These longings were not lost but displaced, Schwartz argues, onto other cultural forms in a movement from ritual to the arts, from the sacrament to the sacramental. Investigating the relationship of the arts to the sacred, Schwartz returns to the primary meaning of "sacramental" as "sign making," noting that because the sign always points beyond itself, it participates in transcendence, and this evocation of transcendence, of mystery, is the work of a sacramental poetics.
The Sacred Act of Reading: Spirituality, Performance, and Power in Afro-Diasporic Literature (New World Studies)
by Anne Margaret CastroFrom Zora Neale Hurston to Derek Walcott to Toni Morrison, New World black authors have written about African-derived religious traditions and spiritual practices. The Sacred Act of Reading examines religion and sociopolitical power in modern and contemporary texts of a variety of genres from the black Americas. By engaging with spiritual traditions such as Vodou, Kumina, and Protestant Christianity while drawing on canonical Eurocentric literary theory, Anne Margaret Castro presents a novel, nuanced reading of power through the physical and metaphysical relationships portrayed in these great works of New World black literature.Castro examines prophecy in the dramas of Derek Walcott, preaching in the ethnography of Zora Neale Hurston, and liturgy in the novels of Toni Morrison, offering comparative readings alongside the works of Afro-Colombian anthropologist Manuel Zapata Olivella, Jamaican sociologist Erna Brodber, and Canadian fiction writer Nalo Hopkinson. The Sacred Act of Reading is the first book to bring together literary texts, historical and contemporary anthropological studies, theology, and critical theory to show how black authors in the Americas employ spiritual phenomena as theoretical frameworks for thinking within, against, and beyond structures of political dominance, dependence, and power.
The Sacred Alignments and Sigils: Angelic Magick, Renaissance Thought, and Modern Methods of Sigilization
by Robert PodgurskiA breakthrough in occult studies that combines modern sigil techniques with traditional Enochian Magick and appeals to all levels of ritual magick practitioners, explorers of consciousness, scholars, dowsers, and tantric yoga practitionersAuthor and magick practitioner Robert Podgurski shares his discovery and development of the Grid Sigil--a tool for exploring the mysteries of embodiment and unity that bridges Enochian Magick with Sparean sigilization. Properly constructed, it emanates the root energies of the four elements bound by spirit in the space/time continuum. This text offers readers a variety of techniques for using the Grid Sigil and is an essential guidebook for understanding the connection between Enochian Magick, geomagnetism, shamanism, and other facets of Eastern and Western esotericism. Close attention is paid to critical metaphysical thought through in-depth analysis based in science, metaphysics, philosophical speculation, and illustrations.
Sacred Attunement: A Jewish Theology
by Michael FishbaneContemporary theology -- and Jewish theology in particular -- Michael Fishbane asserts, now lies fallow, beset by strong critiques from within and without. For Jewish reality, a coherent and wide-ranging response in thoroughly modern terms is needed. "Sacred Attunement" is Fishbane's attempt to renew Jewish theology for our time, in the larger context of modern and postmodern challenges to theology and theological thought in the broadest sense. The first part of the book re-grounds theology in this setting and opens up new pathways through nature, art, and the theological dimension as a whole. In the second section, Fishbane introduces his hermeneutical theology -- one grounded in the interpretation of scripture as a distinctly Jewish practice. The third section focuses on modes of self-cultivation for awakening and sustaining a covenant theology. The final section takes up questions of scripture, authority, belief, despair, and obligation as theological topics in their own right. The first full-scale Jewish theology in America since Abraham J. Heschel's "God in Search of Man" and the first comprehensive Jewish philosophical theology since Franz Rosenzweig's "Star of Redemption"; "Sacred Attunement" is a work of uncommon personal integrity and originality from one of the most distinguished scholars of Judaica in our time.
Sacred Causes: The Clash of Religion and Politics, from the Great War to the War on Terror
by Michael BurleighBeginning with the chaotic post-World War I landscape, in which religious belief was one way of reordering a world knocked off its axis, Sacred Causes is a penetrating critique of how religion has often been camouflaged by politics. All the bloody regimes and movements of the twentieth century are masterfully captured here, from Stalin's Soviet Union, Hitler's Germany, Mussolini's Italy, and Franco's Spain through to the modern scourge of terrorism. Eloquently and persuasively combining an authoritative survey of history with a timely reminder of the dangers of radical secularism, Burleigh asks why no one foresaw the religious implications of massive Third World immigration, and he deftly investigates what are now driving calls for a civic religion to counter the terrorist threats that have so shocked the West.
The Sacred Chain: How Understanding Evolution Leads to Deeper Faith
by Jim StumpA thought-provoking and eye-opening work by Jim Stump, Vice President at BioLogos and host of the Language of God podcast, offering a compelling argument about how evolution does not have to be at odds with faith, but can actually enrich and deepen it.In this moving and deeply thoughtful book, Jim Stump takes readers with him on his journey to understanding evolution and reconciling it with his faith. The Sacred Chain draws on philosophy, theology, and the latest scientific research to tackle some of the biggest questions facing humanity and people of faith today, such as:How can we hold the Bible as a sacred text and yet reconcile modern science with it?By condensing noteworthy events in the history of our universe into one calendar week, what can we learn about God’s creative process and priorities, and where humans fit in?If humans are created in the image of God, what does evolution have to teach us about our species and our place in creation?What about the soul? How can we understand our transcendent qualities if the human body is the product of evolution?How does evolutionary science help us understand how God might use pain and suffering for important and good purposes?Does it have to be one or the other—science or religion—or is there a third way, one that not only preserves faith in the face of modern science, but leads to a stronger, more relevant, and more authentic faith?Deeply researched and a delight to read, The Sacred Chain provides clarity in our uncertain times, revealing a bigger picture of our world and our place within it. It is a panorama consistent with the scientific findings about who we are and where we come from that can actually bolster our faith as it engages our curiosity about ourselves, our universe, and the nature of existence itself.
Sacred Exchanges: Images in Global Context (Columbia Themes in Philosophy, Social Criticism, and the Arts)
by Robyn FerrellAs the international art market globalizes the indigenous image, it changes its identity, status, value, and purpose in local and larger contexts. Focusing on a school of Australian Aboriginal painting that has become popular in the contemporary art world, Robyn Ferrell traces the influence of cultural exchanges on art, the self, and attitudes toward the other.Aboriginal acrylic painting, produced by indigenous women artists of the Australian Desert, bears a superficial resemblance to abstract expressionism and is often read as such by viewers. Yet to see this art only through a Western lens is to miss its unique ontology, logics of sensation, and rich politics and religion. Ferrell explores the culture that produces these paintings and connects its aesthetic to the brutal environmental and economic realities of its people. From here, she travels to urban locales, observing museums and department stores as they traffic interchangeably in art and commodities. Ferrell ties the history of these desert works to global acts of genocide and dispossession. Rethinking the value of the artistic image in the global market and different interpretations of the sacred, she considers photojournalism, ecotourism, and other sacred sites of the western subject, investigating the intersection of modern art and postmodern culture. She ultimately challenges the primacy of the "European gaze" and its fascination with sacred cultures, constructing a more balanced intercultural dialogue that deemphasizes the aesthetic of the real championed by western philosophy.
The Sacred in Exile: What It Really Means To Lose Our Religion
by Gillian Mccann Gitte BechsgaardThis book addresses the fact that, for the first time in history, a large segment of the population in the western world is living without any form of religious belief. While a number of writers have examined the implications of this shift, none have approached the phenomenon from the perspective of religious studies. The authors examine what has been lost from the point of view of sociology, psychology, and philosophy of religion. The book sits at the nexus of a number of important debates including: the role of religion in public life, the connection between religion and physical and psychological well-being, and the implications of the loss of ritual in terms of maintaining communities.
Sacred Jewels of Yoga: Wisdom from India's Beloved Scriptures, Teachers, Masters, and Monks
by Dave DeLucaMillions of Americans today practice the asanas, or postures, of yoga, but many are unaware of the profound spiritual teachings at the heart of yoga’s ancient source scriptures. In this remarkable anthology, acclaimed Vedanta teacher Dave DeLuca presents 166 sacred passages from some of India’s most revered yoga scriptures — the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras, the Bhakti Sutras, the Astavakra Samhita, and the Srimad Bhagavatam — along with teachings by two of the most beloved yoga masters of the modern era, Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. This combination of ancient wisdom and modern commentary makes Sacred Jewels of Yoga an invaluable introduction to the scriptural treasures of ancient India and a priceless resource for inspiration, illumination, and guidance.
Sacred Kingship in World History: Between Immanence and Transcendence
by Moin, A. Azfar; Strathern, AlanSacred kingship has been the core political form, in small-scale societies and in vast empires, for much of world history. This collaborative and interdisciplinary book recasts the relationship between religion and politics by exploring this institution in long-term and global comparative perspective.Editors A. Azfar Moin and Alan Strathern present a theoretical framework for understanding sacred kingship, which leading scholars reflect on and respond to in a series of essays. They distinguish between two separate but complementary religious tendencies, immanentism and transcendentalism, which mold kings into divinized or righteous rulers, respectively. Whereas immanence demands priestly and cosmic rites from kings to sustain the flourishing of life, transcendence turns the focus to salvation and subordinates rulers to higher ethical objectives. Secular modernity does not end the struggle between immanence and transcendence—flourishing and righteousness—but only displaces it from kings onto nations and individuals. After an essay by Marshall Sahlins that ranges from the Pacific to the Arctic, the book contains chapters on religion and kingship in settings as far-flung as ancient Egypt, classical Greece, medieval Islam, Mughal India, modern European drama, and ISIS. Sacred Kingship in World History sheds new light on how religion has constructed rulership, with implications spanning global history, religious studies, political theory, and anthropology.