How does one empire differ from another? Why do empires rise and fall? What has made empires flourish in some eras and regions of the world but not in others? In this broad and ambitious book; Dominic Lieven explores the place and meaning of empire from ancient Rome to the present.The central focus of the book is Russia and the rise and fall of the Tsarist and the Soviet Empires. The overwhelming majority of works on empire concentrate on the European maritime powers. Lieven’s comparative approach highlights the important role played by Russia in the expansion of Europe and its rise to global dominance. The book contrasts the nature; strategies; and fate of empire in Russia with that of its major rivals; the Habsburg; Ottoman; and British empires; and considers a broad range of other cases from ancient China and Rome to the present-day United States; Indonesia; India; and the European Union.Many of the dilemmas of empire persist in today’s world; and Lieven throws new light on some of the most intractable current examples; including the crisis in the former Soviet Union; the troubles in Ulster; and ethnic cleansing in the Balkans. This major examination of the imperial experience presents history on the grandest scale; combining formidable erudition with stimulating readability.
#12097 in Books James C Scott 1999-02-08Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.22 x 1.22 x 6.16l; 1.14 #File Name: 0300078153464 pagesSeeing Like a State How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed
Review
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. How Rare a GemBy J.W.In a world where governments continually seek to invade personal privacy; control the elements; clump humanity into categories and relentlessly attempt to socially engineer their populations; Scott seeks to make sense of the situation by explaining the why and how behind governmental actions; making "the case for the indispensable role of practical knowledge; informal processes; and improvisation in the face of unpredictability." Perhaps Scott sums it up best when he says; "Much of this book can be read as a case against the imperialism of high modernist; planned social order." Every part of this book is clear and concise. This is a rare gem among modern academia.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Insightful; though it's not for everybody. An extended ...By Thomas JewellInsightful; though it's not for everybody. An extended discussion about how government agencies shape the world to accomplish their ends; Very much about the law of unintended consequences. I am no scholar; so I cannot debate his thesis ; but I find this book has changed the way way I look at the world; and particularly; the character of government.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. This book will transform the way you look at governmentBy Richard HughesThis book is essentially a series of discussions of how the perceptual gaps of state apparatus lead to specific sorts of problems; especially when the state attempts to perform large scale; society-changing work. While the book is written by a man who could be reasonably described as a minarchist; it's exceptionally useful to big-state left wing socialists; such as myself; who value understanding why this sort of thing has failed; and failed so badly; in the past.In addition to the educational value; it is an absolute page turner; filled with exciting historical moments that will be brand new to most American readers. I heartily recommend it to anyone.
