Archives:

Spin Dictators: The Changing Face of Tyranny in the 21st Century

From the jury: In Spin Dictators, Guriev and Triesman paint a portrait of the new breed of dictators that control their populations by distorting information and simulating democratic processes.  They have pioneered less violent, more covert, and more efficient and effective methods of repression. Guriev and Triesman show us how these new authoritarians come to…

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Slouching Toward Utopia: An Economic History of the Twentieth Century

From the jury: Slouching toward Utopia is a gripping account of the economic and social dreams of Western countries in the 20th and early 21st centuries. J. Bradford DeLong tells a compelling story of flawed decision-making that failed to realize promise and left so many frustrated and open to easy and risky solutions. “Slouching” refers…

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Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism

From the jury: Revolution and Dictatorship changes the way we understand the staying power of authoritarian regimes.  In a brilliant and original argument that draws deeply on history, Levitsky and Way show us how the origin of an authoritarian regime tells us a great deal about how long it is likely to last. Revolutionary regimes…

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Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology

From the jury: In this gripping history of semiconductors, Chris Miller tells the contemporary history of the geopolitical competition between the United States and China. In compelling prose, Miller traces the history of a tiny silicon wafer that shapes technological development and economic growth in the global economy and is now at the forefront of…

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To End a Plague: America’s Fight to Defeat AIDS in Africa

From the Jury: “From Washington to Kampala, To End a Plague tells the story of how the Bush administration marshalled support for PEPFAR, an ambitious plan to fight AIDS in Africa. Drawing on the testimonials of advocates, doctors, and policymakers, Bass traces the long road from AIDS activism to the rollout of antiretrovirals. Although PEPFAR…

The Long Game: China’s Grand Strategy to Displace American Order

From the Jury: “Is the balance of power shifting away from U.S. hegemony to a new global order, where China takes the lead? Drawing on primary Chinese language sources, Rush Doshi traces the evolution of China’s approach from U.S. strategic partner to strategic competitor in The Long Game: China’s Grand Strategy to Displace American Order.…