This fascinating book written by Ravil Bukharayev is an excellent example of serious, scholarly approach to the subject of economic and political reform in post-Communist societies. This is a book that ought to be recommended to Vladimir Putin, the leader who is expected to continue the course of reforms in Russia. Tatarstan's example of slow but steady movement toward the market economy and democratic system ought to be emulated by Russia, which over the last 10 years stumbled from one crisis to another on its way to the same goal. President Shaimiyev's leadership in Tatarstan ensured a much more successful and effective transition to what Russia has been trying to achive without much success.

This book is both instructive and enjoyable at the same time. It contains useful information on the history of not only architecture but also on the social life in modern Turkey. Readers will enjoy the rare collection of numerous pictures and photos that are difficult to find elsewhere. It is a wonderful resource for not only Turkish people and for architects, but also for all foreigners who are interested in this country. Following the Independence War and the establishment of the Republic, a new and modern nation was built on the ruins of The Ottoman Empire and this book tells us how this was achieved.

Namaqualand is one of my favorite places on earth when it blooms. This book shows Namaqualand at it's best. It gives a little taste of what this area looks like when in flower. The pictures are stunning and spectacular. If you love the flowers of South Africa this book is a must. I hope to see this area in person some day. Until then I can look at this book and dream. Another good book on this area is "Namaqualand: A Succulent Desert" by Richard Cowling and Shirley Pierce, with Photograpy by Colin Paterson-Jones. Both volumes are wonderful.

This is an excellent book which explores the tension between the ideal of citizenship and the reality of nationalism in Lithuania.

2002 Marshall Shulman Book Prize sponsored by the Harriman Institute at Columbia University is awarded annually by the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies (AAASS) for an outstanding monograph on the international behavior of the countries of the former communist bloc.
The award committee wrote:
In National Purpose in the World Economy: Post-Soviet States in Comparative Perspective, Rawi Abdelal combines considerable theoretical sophistication with extraordinarily in-depth empirical grounding. Asking how states develop foreign economic policy in the aftermath of imperial domination, Abdelal builds a new approach distinct from the dominant realist and liberal paradigms within the field of International Political Economy. He argues that neither statist realism nor economic liberalism captures the importance of national identity, and he demonstrates the power of his nationalist approach by comparing the foreign economic policies developed by Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union. His rich case studies are based on extensive interviewing with the key actors. Finally, lest the readers believe the argument is relevant only to the experience of post-Soviet states, Abdelal concludes with additional evidence from the experience of post-Habsburg Eastern Europe, 1950s Indonesia, and 1960s French West Africa. In this outstanding book, Abdelal makes a major contribution to the fields of post-Soviet studies and international political economy.
The 2002 Marshall Shulman Book Prize was awarded during the AAASS National Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 23, 2002 at the Saturday Reception and Awards Presentation.

Aleksandr Pika is a great northern anthropologist, and I am greatful that his work has been translated into English. This book is an excellent study of USSR policy as it has affected (and continues to affect) Native Siberians.

The New Parliaments of Central and Eastern Europe is an excellent piece of scholarly research, and truly the most accurate, updated and complete work in the market on such an slippery subject as the building of legislative institutions in East European Democracies. No wonder: the group of scholars put together by Olson and Norton joins the most outstanding researchers in each of the countries involved.

Plenzdorf writes with much wit over a timeless struggle between man and society. A mimic of Goethe intertwined with Salinger, Plenzdorf introduces us to Edgar Wibeau, a charismatic teenager, who like Goethe's Werther, or Salinger's Caufield, is a sensitive youth out of touch with modern societal norms. From the start he is the model GDR-boy. Intelligent, obiedient, and steadfast. One day, he decides that he cannot take it anymore, and that he'll just leave. He abandons everything, and lives in his bestfriend Willi's mother's garden house. A definite read. Anyone who enjoys either Goethe or Salinger should pick up this read!

It is important to remember the stories of humanity seeking freedom. In a sense, we expand our own memories. In the remembering we can live with greater awareness and integrity. We can feel the pull toward justice in our own lives.

Richard Henry shares the inspiring life of Capek as one who lived his life authentically, in relationship and in response. Capek was a visionary and a transformer, bringing hope to the people. Through Henry's remarkable research, we are able to gain a window into life of this beloved man. We understand how timeless themes of love, freedom, courage, and faith are not only ideals but are embodied in us by the choices we make and the way we live. We bear witness to Czechoslovakian struggle for freedom. We bear witness to the courage of the human spirit and a man who devoted his life to the spiritual rebirth of a nation. Thanks, Richard Henry, for the memory.

This book renders all other works on the subject obsolete. Big full color photos make proper identification of medals and ribbons simple. I believe any serious collector of Vietnam war militaria needs this book.