In the Ottoman Empire; many members of the ruling elite were legally slaves of the sultan and therefore could; technically; be ordered to surrender their labor; their property; or their lives at any moment. Nevertheless; slavery provided a means of social mobility; conferring status and political power within the military; the bureaucracy; or the domestic household and formed an essential part of patronage networks. Ehud R. Toledano’s exploration of slavery from the Ottoman viewpoint is based on extensive research in British; French; and Turkish archives and offers rich; original; and important insights into Ottoman life and thought.In an attempt to humanize the narrative and take it beyond the plane of numbers; tables and charts; Toledano examines the situations of individuals representing the principal realms of Ottoman slavery; female harem slaves; the sultan’s military and civilian kuls; court and elite eunuchs; domestic slaves; Circassian agricaultural slaves; slave dealers; and slave owners. Slavery and Abolition in the Ottoman Middle East makes available new and significantly revised studies on nineteenth-century Middle Eastern slavery and suggests general approaches to the study of slavery in different cultures.
#88808 in Books Richard Elliott Neustadt 1991-03-01 1991-03-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.20 x 6.12l; .96 #File Name: 0029227968384 pagesPresidential power and the modern presidents
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy GarrethA classic necessity of any presidential scholar.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Deeper Then PresidentsBy Michael GriswoldWhile I usually study comparative politics and international relations; I've been on this bizarre United States Presidents kick this summer. Richard Neustadt's Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents is considered a classic within the American politics subfield--specifically the study of US Presidents.At the time Neustadt was writing there was this linear image of the President making a decision on some matter of policy and then marshaling the resources to carry it out. The basic argument of the book is that this image of the President is flawed as few examples of this type of presidential leadership exist. The President to act as ultimate decider on policy actions is constrained by things like Congress; his own prestige and ability to persuade; and the competing interests within his own administrationI thought that Presidential Power gave a more realistic and less idealized view of presidential decision-making. I'd like to deal with two criticisms: the focus on policy failures and the perhaps outdated nature of the argument. Some people have taken issue with the focus on policy failures. Well; we often learn more about a president from his failures then his successes. If one looks only at success then are we really getting an accurate view of leadership?The second criticism is that the argument is outdated as Presidents seem to have taken more powers upon themselves from the 1990's onward with Congress and others playing less of the role articulated by Neustadt in the pages of this book. While I was tempted to agree thinking about the Clinton and Bush administrations; couldn't we say that elements of Neustadt's logic help explain the current governmental dysfunction evidenced by the battles between the Obama White House and Congress?A thought provoking thesis on the nature of American presidential leadership that should be read by political science students of all disciplines.12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. Machiavelli in the White HouseBy John C. MckeeThis is indeed one the classics in the field of presidential studies. Neustadt's contribution; although somewhat commonsensical at first glance; is that despite the huge increase in formal powers that the president has acquired over the years; the most fundamental power the president possesses is the power to persuade.The president must persuade other independently elected officials to do as he sees fit. This; in a city such as Washington DC where people have seen powerful politicians come and go over the years; is easier said than done. The president must be attuned to the nuances of political issues and not allow himself to become cut off from the political back and forth by his retinue of aides. He must retain the prerogative of making the final political decision and avoid becoming a clerk and simply ratifying the decisions made form by the staff and the bureaucracy. Further; he must define what is in his political self interest.The president does so by keeping himself informed; by employing a system of information that allows him to be at the center and making real decisions; and by carefully husbanding the power and carefully cultivating the image of the president. While the president does posses the power to command; instances where he must rely on command are a prima facie failure of persuasion.Finally; the president must ensure that others understand his power. He must be able to strike a modicum of fear into both his allies and his foes. In the political sense; this means the ability to hurt someone electorally. If I as the president can campaign against you and make it stick; you will be more likely to fear me and be persuaded by my requests.This is not an easy read; but if you are involved as a student of politics you WILL read this book at some point. A classic and well worth the effort.John C. McKee
