Governments

I have read numerous books on the "situation" in the Middle East but they all read like History books. This is the exception. Salhani writes about his memories of war with humour and yet realism that makes you understand the life of a journalist in these situations. It was a page turner and I enjoyed it immensely.I do not hesitate to recommend it to anyone.For a comprehensive look at the Lebanese civil war et al,this is the book. Enlightnening, informative, humorous and yet touching. Salhani opens his heart to us in print and one cannot help but respond.

Black September to Desert Storm is a book about the backstage of war.

It is easy to read and instructive not only about the comlex issue of the Middle East but also about Middle Easterns themselves. Most of all it shows through one journalist what covering comlex news events could look like.

Nobody can reveal the absurd and totally surealistic face of war better than a news photographer.

One might find it hard to laugh about events that shook the world with horror, but Salhani shows you how strange enough even in the hardest situations some humour is hidden. Professionals who hop from one war to another mentally survive by cherishing that side.

One might find it even harder to imagine that the most feared terrorist, soldier of fortune or sniper,can also have a human side to him.

If you are someone who reads newspapers and are interested in knowing how news gets to you, this book is a must.

I thought Black September to Desert Storm was a fascinating look at 15 years of unrest in the Middle East through one reporter's eyes. The fact that the author seems to be smart, funny, observant and versatile makes the book easy to read and the complex political and social situations that form the backdrop to his adventures simpler to understand. No one book can capture the entire scope of the Middle East's continuing conflicts, but Salhani is able to show the ludicrous side of these myriad struggles as well as the human tragedies they engender. He does so with compassion and empathy as well as the cold eye of a cynic who has seen too much to be easily fooled. I found myself caught up in the human stories, fascinated and amused by the bizarre cast of characters which populate these pages, but I also felt anger and frustration at the bullheadedness and stubborn pride of the politicians and military leaders whose fault it is these conflicts will seemingly never end. Also, his candid insider's descriptions of the life of a war correspondent and the antics of the foreign press corps were astonishing and often hilarious. If you want to read an enjoyable book that's easy to understand but will still and enlighten you about the Middle East and foreign journalism, I strongly recommend Black September to Desert Storm.

Not only British people should read this. It sets out the whole shape of post-Cold War culture, society and politics in the Anglo-Saxon world. If Britain got Blair, the US got Clinton but they are in many ways the same. This book shows how "political wars" have been replaced by "culture wars" and how conservatives are losing. It is original, profound and frightening.

Shows the shape of the politics of the post-Cold War era and how Britain's culture and society are going down the drain. A portrait of weirdos in power in the cultral nomenklatura and a chilling warning. Should be compulsory reading for an understanding of the not-so-brave new world of Cool Britania

Fascinating view of what is happening in England today. More a social commentary than a political one, but as an account of what is happening to England's traditions, values and culture today it is more horrifying than the exploits of Dr Hannibal Lecter. This is 1984 brought up to date and supported by a wealth of documentation from today's papers and other media - unfortunately unlike 1984 it is true. The author cuts between personal observations (savage on the Diana funeral and the media) and analysis. Also looks at things like films, sport, music, media and children's books as indicators of cultural health.

This book is really a "comprehensive" (in the literal meaning of the word), clearly written, richly supported by concrete cases (mostly, federal agencies) guide about government bureaucracy mainly in the United States. From introduction to the end, Wilson clearly and convincingly demonstrates the reasons what the government agencies do and why they do that in the way they do.

The book is organized into six parts: Organizations, Operators, Managers, Executives, Context, and Change. In the first part, Wilson's thesis is simply that organization matters. Organization must be in accordance with the objectives of the agency. In the second part, the author examines the operators' behavior (say, street-level bureaucrats) and how their culture is shaped by the imperatives of the situation they encounter in a daily basis. The third part deals with the issues peculiar to managers of public agencies. In this part, attention is focused upon the constraints that put the mangers in a stalemate (see chapter 7, this chapter is completely insightful!!). The fourth part is devoted to the Executives. This part clearly illustrates why the executives of government agencies compete with other departments and which strategies are used in the process of competition and/or cooperation (especially see the 10th chapter about Turf, insightful!!). In the fifth part, Wilson focuses on the context in which public agencies do their business (Congress, Presidents and Courts). In the last part, Wilson summarizes the problems and examines alternative solutions (the market alternatives to the bureaucracy) and concludes with reasonable and "little" propositions.

In the book, I found especially some points very insightful to me. One of them is concerned with the distinction between government agencies. According to the typology Wilson forms the government agencies are classified into four groups. That is, production organizations, procedural organizations, craft organizations, and coping organizations. This distinction is chiefly based upon the visibility/measurability of the organizations' outputs and procedures. In this logic, the "production organization" is defined as having both measurable processes and visible/understandable outputs (i.e., Social Security Administration). "Procedural organizations" perform measurable processes, but they have no visible or easily measurable outputs. The "craft organization" is characterized by having immeasurable processes and visible outputs (i.e., the armies). However, the "coping organization" has neither measurable/controllable processes nor visible outputs (i.e., the Police Department, the Department of Education). This taxonomy is put forward and used in the rest of the book as one of the main determinants of the problems (and also successes) in the public sector.

The second important and insightful point made by Wilson is concerned with the efficiency in the public sector. To Wilson, measuring efficiency is a difficult project in the public sector. Wilson approaches the efficiency from a different perspective that we are not so accustomed. His question is that if the efficiency is the ratio of input to the output, what are the outputs of the public agencies and can those outputs be measured/quantified? "Contextual goals" sought by public organizations in addition to their main objectives make the efficiency measurement problem more complex and elusive. If contextual goals are taken into consideration the efficiency of the public organization incredibly increases.

The third important point is concerned with the organization mission. Wilson sees organizational mission in the public sector radically different from how we learned it in the organization theory courses. To Wilson, organization mission is same with the public agency's culture if the culture is widely and heartily shared by the most of the organization's members. To connect organizational mission to the organization culture provides the author with another insight that in public sector, the culture of public agencies defines their mission (not congressional mandates or paper enactments!!). Culture is formed mainly according to the situational mandates of the work being done (and also many other factors such as leadership). That is, in addition to the "organization", also the "situation" matters.

Wilson does not neglect to touch another (susceptible) problem in the public sector: "red tape". To the author, the main reason behind the red tape can be explained with the fact that since there are high risks at stake when the rules are violated there is a "tendency" to multiply the rules, as (big or small) scandals occur, so as to impede the future scandals and violations that consume the trust capital generously in the eye of the common citizens.

Wilson also asks the question why public agencies are not given specific and well-defined goals. The reply to this question is "multiplication of interests". According to Wilson, as time pass, different interests find a place in the mission of the organization and accordingly new goals (for new interests [supported by politicians] to be satisfied by the agency) are added to the "objectives" list of the agency (mostly, contradictory to each other). You can discern this dynamic by comparing the total page number of the some enactments today in enforcement with the original page number when the enactment was first adopted (maybe ten years ago).

Having reviewed the government bureaucracy comprehensively, Wilson develops some "little" reform propositions. Wilson believes that if a reform is to be successful, it must take into account the situational imperatives of the public sector organizations, and the "reward systems" must be suitable to the output expected (this point can be summarized with the motto that DON'T REWARD THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE).

Once you have finished the book will you likely to ask this question: Is really "bureaucracy" not a simple phenomenon? It has always been difficult to summarize the "great books", and this book is one of them. This book must be read in its entirety. Highly recommended.

Wilson's book is a breath of fresh air after years of being forced to deal with stilted rational choice texts in graduate school. Though the idea of finding a study of bureaucracy interesting seems strange, I literally could not put this book down- and not only because I am a poliSci nerd.

Wilson's review of how bureaucracies make policy is pretty comprehensive- he nods at almost all of the major contributors to the discipline. For this reason the book is an excellent introduction to Political Science for someone wishing to get beyond the 101 courses.

His most interesting work deals with the formation of institutional culture- how the definition of an agency's tasksm and the limitations of its capabilities influence its performance and can often produce seemingly "irrational" behavior.

The most interesting thisn, however, is his discussion of how institutions and organizations develop an "ethos" or organizational culture. What bureaucrats do depends not only on what they think their priamry task is, but to a large degree on who they think they are. It is an area often neglected in the field today.

Wilson is a giant, and I recommend him to anyone who is interested in policy, in academia, or outside of it.

Dr. Wilson's thesis: the Bureaucracy (mostly the federal bureaucracy) behaves in consistent, hence predictable, ways. His point is very well taken and explains why, for example, the Clintonians showed up expecting to be greeted as saviors by the civil service... and why they weren't. Liberal, Conservative, Populist, or Libertarian, you'll find no better study.

Politics as seen by, "the innermost of California's political insiders."

New insight into the reasoning behind strategic decisions from the winners and losers.

California Votes is a tribute to Democracy

Politics as seen by, "the innermost of California's political insiders."

New insight into the reasoning behind strategic decisions from the winners and losers.

California Votes is a tribute to Democracy

Mr. Gottesman paints a vivid picture of Cambodia after 1979 that is particularly relevant in this time of reconstruction and nation building in Iraq. This is on my all time top 10 books right after the Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing.

This is a fascinating telling of the politics of the PRK. The author has adroitly woven a tapestry of the give and take between the ideologically rigid Vietnamese liberators and the ideologically-opportunistic Khmer Rouge. The irony of the title is that there was no "after the Khmer Rouge:" indeed, they are still alive and well and running the PRK's successor state, which could be called the Democratic People's Republic of Royal Camobodia, an amalgam of ex-Pol Potists, Sihounoukists and genuine deomocrats.
Gottesman is to be congratulated on his shrewd observations and the skillful way he merged the ever-morphing political landscape in Phnom Penh with the relatively static, self-serving and corrupt provinical politics that tended to ignore any central dictums that reduced local prerogatives. In sum, pretty much the story of all socialist states; proclaim endless drivel ex cathedra from the capital and pray that somebody out there listens.
This is a must read for anyone interested in a little known asterisk in the cold war and anyone interested in third world politics. Foe all American ideologues eager to proclaim Iraq the next Japan, read, learn and repent!

Evan Gottesman's three years of field work in Cambodia with the American Bar Association Law and Democracy Project gave him an exceptionally solid base from which he launched this study of the history of the PRK and SOC regimes. His use of documents dug out of the National Archives is, as David Chandler has remarked, "masterful." His interviews with the former holders of power provide fascinating insights into the minds of key personalities seldom reached by Westerners. The epilogue is chock full of understated, reasonable, fair, and on-the-mark assessments of the reality on the ground in Cambodia today -- "Cambodian democracy often seems an abstraction...Although the methods of control have changed, the personnel governing the country remain largely the same ... (they) have accepted a new level of political discourse, but they do so only to the extent that it does not jeopardize their power." Life and work in Cambodia as a lawyer would frustrate all but the most idealistic of men. That Mr. Gottesman came away with such a patient and objective look at Cambodia says much about both his character and his intellect. This book is a must read for our new generation of "nation builders." It will allow them to bring to bear a better sense of time scale regarding their grand plans to democratize the world, clearly a task for multiple generations of good men like Evan Gottesman, not one to be attempted by one or two four-year administrations of ambitious politicians.

This guide proved to be just what it claimed: a source to guide the reader through the different agencies and career paths available in non-prof and gov. It was straightforward, no-nonsense and provided just what I needed, which was a source that listed career possibilities and workplaces, without any fluff or pomp about how wonderful it is that you want to work for the greater good. I already know that. Just tell me how to get hired! This guide did just that.

This is an excellent easy-to-read manual for anyone interested in the challenge of a non-profit career. The inclusion of government careers and agencies was also really helpful to me in expanding my job search. I was so focused on heart-work in the non-profit sector, that I had never even stopped to consider a career in government. But this guide showed how those career paths can be just as rewarding in terms of making a difference in the world. The lists of organizations saved me a lot of research and provided descriptions and contact information all in one place--a major time saver. Overall, it was as if someone had done all of my research for me in the form of this guide. I feel a step ahead in my career search.

Since i didn't really know how to get started in terms of figuring out what's out there in the non-profit/govt world, i was glad to get a book such as this one to get me going in the right direction. it's good to know i can use my economics degree in any number of ways. and the list of resources/organizations at the back is proving very helpful!

The first target of Stalin's murder machine was the thousands of communist workers who supported the left opposition of Leon Trotsky. In the Soviet Union the human continuity of real Marxism was broken by Stalin, but the political program remains today. An important part of this program is collected in this book, which analyzes the early tendencies of the bureaucratic machine that was beginning to supplant revolutionary Marxism. Trotsky brilliantly analyzes the first fruits of Stalin's narrow world outlook in the years following the defeat of the German Revolution of 1923. On the domestic front, he points to the need to build an alliance of the working class and peasantry. Within the party, he calls for democratic discussion to replace lies and slander. Now, with the collapse of Stalinism coinciding with a disastrous crisis of capitalism, is a good time to check out these articles by Trotsky.

This book consists of talks and articles by the leader of the fight to keep the Soviet Union on a revolutionary course from 1923 through 1925. Lenin's perspective of extending revolution world-wide clashed with the views of the nationalist, bureaucratic caste growing within the USSR, led by Stalin. Lenin sought Trotsky's collaboration to oppose Stalin's political and organizational transgressions and remove him from the position of Communist Party General Secretary.

But a stroke felled Lenin in the spring of 1923 and he remained incapacitated until his death early in 1924. It was left to Trotsky to lead the fight for Marxism - Leninism against its negation: Stalinism.

This volume marks the beginning of the struggle Trotsky launched at Lenin's insistence to oppose Stalin, Bukharin and others who adapted to middle class bureaucratic layers in Russia and began to turn the young Soviet Union away from the revolutionary communist road Lenin had led it on, onto the bureaucratic degeneration that became known as Stalinism. Covered here are how to fight bureaucracy--is it an administrative or social economic problem--the real history of the Russian revolution, and so much more. This is required reading for fighters in the former USSR, in China, Vietnam and other countries trying to fight their way out of the debris of the Stalinist regimes. This is a great asset for Cuban fighters to understand that Fidel and Che's fight against bureaucratism was not the first.

Garcia presents the Movement in four stages, emphasizing the rejection by Chicanos of the Liberal agenda and the attainment of a Chicano sense of historicity. He observantly points out that Mexicans had pursued social justice for decades prior to the 1960's and 1970's. It was the big letdown after the 'Viva Kennedy' campaigns that led to a more militant stance on Mexican issues.

When a people lack a firm sense of their historic value, they suffer. Chicanismo provided that vital sense that "it's okay to be brown"...in fact, it's a badge of historical honor.

Garcia also does an excellent job of exposing the sexism within the Movement against Chicanas, who were always among the first to join organizations, and among the last to leave. Chicanismo is an essential book for any self-respecting Chicana/o seeking to understand 'La Causa' and the sell-out "Hispanic / Latino" era that has transpired afterwards.

Whether middle-class Mexicans may want to deny the label of Chicano in favor of a milder, more Eurocentric 'Hispanic' or 'Latino' labels, the ethos that was generated by Chicanos remains the historical and political blueprint for modern ethnic politicans and organizations.

The Chicano record for building and creating community organizations and programs remains unmatched by the present Hispanic/Latino generation, who would rather change the names from Chicano to Hispanic or Latino.
The Chicano contributions stand alone.

Garcia is an excellent writer, who clearly articulates his views. Unlike Acuna, Berrera, or Munoz, Garcia clearly establishes a synthesis of the movement. He is an excellent scholar on the La Raza Unida Party, and this is evident in his work. Great book for cultural and ethnical studies of American history. The only negative thing that I have to say, is that sometimes a reader may get lost in his ideological approach to many topics--Garcia is an excellent thinker.

This is a good analysis of the Chicano movement without the usual rhetoric and agenda that often times cloud such studies. "Chicanismo..." is a good book for those not fully versed in the subject matter, and for those who want to re-evaluate this unique movement. Recommended for Chicano Studies courses.

Have you ever wondered what life has been like since 'the people of China stood up' in 1949? If so then ' China Remembers' is the book for you.

Cleverly constructed by husband and wife team it provides a highly readable personal account of the defining moments in the lives of a variety of people. By interviewing hundreds of people and eliciting their stories they have painted a rich and vivid picture of 50 years in China. The characters endear themselves to the reader as they tell their stories. People such as a Chinese soldier in the Korean War, a farmer who lost almost all her family in China's terrible famine, a red guard in Shanghai during the cultural revolution to a modern day self-made business tycoon and a village carpenter striving to win democratic election to his village committee.

But what adds immeasurably to the charm and interest of this book are the linking introductions to each section and chapter. Written in a different, more academic style, the authors have set the historical, political and economic scene so that the reader can more readily identify and empathise with the achievements and problems related by each storyteller.

This book entertains as it educates, makes you laugh as well as cry and as China continues to rejoin the world, it enlightens understanding of a mysterious, enigmatic yet wholly human people. A great read!

'China Remembers' by Zhang Lijia and Calum MacLeod groups 33 contributions from Chinese and foreign residents in China, arranged to give insight into the history of the People's Republic and leavened with introductions to guide the reader through the complexities of its political campaigns.

It is hard to imagine an editorial team better equipped for the task. Zhang Lijia's metamorphosis from Nanjing factory worker to freelance writer itself reflects China's heady leap from planned economy to sink-or-swim capitalism. Calum MacLeod, who I have counted a friend since we shared a mouldy hotel room in Xi'an in 1989, earns his living bridging the gap between international investors and newly corporate China.

The testimonies this Anglo-Chinese joint venture couple have gathered come as an antidote to the efforts by Mao Zedong and his communist comrades to force the world's most populous nation to march to a single beat. China Remembers bursts with human contradictions and surprises a world away from the tyranny of Marxist class truths.

"China Remembers", a collection of individual eyewitness accounts from a wide variety of participants in the last 50 years of Chinese history, vividly and poignantly portrays the realities of those years.

Divided into five "periods" - from "Consolidating Power:1949-1956" right up to the present day with "Entering the World:1990-1999", each of the "periods"comes to life through the voices of such witnesses as diverse as an interpreter of Mao Zedong, a young woman's experience of the Cultural Revolution in the remote countryside,a student who participated in the 1989 "Beijing Spring", a legal expert who returned to her native China after 10 years in the US, and a rubbish collector...among the 33 different "voices" of this vivid volume. Each very personal account is preceded by the authors' introduction.

The voices from the heart recount the turmoil of recent Chinese history - of the often unspoken horrors and unfathomable personal tragedies. The recollections are told in the first person and dwell with courage upon the past experiences, struggles and success against all odds and the opportunities and hope for the future.

Authors Zhang Lijia - born and raised in China - and Calum Macleod have memorably captured the emotion, complexity and contradictions of China's recent history in a work that provides gripping reading.