The League of Nations and the Organisation of Peace

In the years1815-1832, Britain came close to revolution. Fewer than twenty years separate the Battle of Waterloo from the passing of the ‘Great'Reform Act but during this period Britain's political elite was challenged as never before. In rising to that challenge, the political elite attempted, with considerable success, to ensure that Britain engineered that most perilous of transitions, from a less complex and more deferential society into a modern urban and industrial one, while avoding political revolution. In this extensively revised 2nd edition Evans engages with a welter of new material and fresh interpretations. The book sheds light both on the challenges to existing political and social authority and why those challenges were seen off. Evans examines:· The composition of Britain's political elite and how this elite coped with the problems thrown up by a society urbanising and modernising at an unprecedented rate.· How Britain reacted to the longer-term implications of the French Revolution, including the development of a more cohesive national identity. · How the elite attempted to maintain public order in this period – and with what success. · The extent of change in Britain's political system brought about by political, religious and administrative reforms Written in accessible style, with a rich collection of documents, chronology, glossary, a guide to further reading,and a ‘Who's Who'which summarises the careers and contributions of the main figures, this new edition is essential for all those interested in understanding Britain at this most crucial turning point in its history.

Britain before the Reform Act

Eric J Evans

In the years 1815-1832, Britain came close to revolution. Fewer than twenty years separate the Battle of Waterloo from the passing of the ‘Great’ Reform Act but during this period Britain’s political elite was challenged as never before. In rising to that challenge, the political elite attempted, with considerable success, to ensure that Britain engineered that most perilous of transitions, from a less complex and more deferential society into a modern urban and industrial one, while avoding political revolution.

In this extensively revised 2nd edition Evans engages with a welter of new material and fresh interpretations. The book sheds light both on the challenges to existing political and social authority and why those challenges were seen off.

Evans examines:

· The composition of Britain’s political elite and how this elite coped with the problems thrown up by a society urbanising and modernising at an unprecedented rate.

· How Britain reacted to the longer-term implications of the French Revolution, including the development of a more cohesive national identity.

· How the elite attempted to maintain public order in this period – and with what success.

· The extent of change in Britain’s political system brought about by political, religious and administrative reforms

Written in accessible style, with a rich collection of documents, chronology, glossary, a guide to further reading, and a ‘Who’s Who’ which summarises the careers and contributions of the main figures, this new edition is essential for all those interested in understanding Britain at this most crucial turning point in its history.

Eric J Evans is Emeritus Professor of History at Lancaster University. He is the author of numerous titles of political and social history. His publications include Parliamentary Reform, 1770-1918 (Longman,1999) andThe Forging of the Modern State: Early Industrial Britain, 1783-1870 (3rd edition, Longman, 2001) and Thatcher and Thatcherism (2nd edition, 2006)

From the publisher. The League of Nations -- pre-cursor to the United Nations -- was founded in 1919 as a response to the First World War to ensure collective security and prevent the outbreak of future wars. It was set up to facilitate diplomacy in the face of future international conflict, but also to work towards eradicating the very causes of war by promoting social and economic justice. The philosophy behind much of the League's fascinating and varied roles was to help create satisfied populations who would reject future threats to the peace of their world. In this new volume for Seminar Studies, Martyn Housden sets out to balance the League's work in settling disputes, international security and disarmament with an analysis of its achievements in social and economic fields. He explores the individual contributions of founding members of the League, such as Fridtjof Nansen, Ludwik Rajchman, Rachel Crowdy, Robert Cecil and Jan Smuts, whose humanitarian work laid the foundations for the later successes of the United Nations in such areas as: the welfare of vulnerable people, especially prisoners of war and refugees; dealing with epidemic diseases and promoting good health; anti-drugs campaigns. Supported by previously unpublished documents and photographs, this book illustrates how an understanding of the League of Nations, its achievements and its ultimate failure to stop the Second World War, is central to our understanding of diplomacy and international relations in the Inter-War period In the first half of the twentieth century, China moved from a millennium of imperial rule to the Communist Party-led People's Republic of China which remains today. China in Transformation argues that this enormously significant period in Chinese history saw wrenching change throughout Chinese society amounting to a social, cultural and political transformation. This new, fully revised and updated edition takes full advantage of new research and formerly unavailable material to analyse the fascinating processes of revolution, reform, reaction and change in China during the period. Mackerras:· Discusses the wars, occupations and uprisings that marked the period, including the Boxer Rebellion and the Japanese occupation and includes a new chapter on postwar China and the Civil War· Examines nation-building and revolutions, including the successful communist movement that has led to the rise of today's state· Acknowledges the prevalence of poverty and famine in the period but also gives space to the areas in which there was progress: the introduction of mass, secular education, improvements in the status of women, and in a new chapter, details significant developments in culture, literature and theatreWritten in an accessible style, with a rich collection of Documents, Chronology, Glossary, a Guide to Further Reading,and a Who's Who summarising the careers and contributions of the main figures, this new edition is essential for all those interested in understanding China's modern history. The Unification of Italy in the nineteenth century was the unlikely result of a lengthy and complex process of Italian revival (Risorgimento). Few Italians supported Unification and the new rulers of Italy were unable to resolve their disputes with the Catholic Church, the local power-holders in the South and the peasantry. In this fascinating account, Martin Clark examines these problems and considers: · The economic, social and religious contexts of Unification, as well as the diplomatic and military aspects · The roles of Cavour and Garibaldi and also the wider European influences, particularly those of Britain and France· The recent historiographical shift away from uncritical celebration of the achievement of Italian unity.Did'Italian Unification'mean anything more than traditional Piedmontese expansionism? Was it simply an aspect of European'secularisation'? Did it involve'state-building', or just repression? In exploring these questions and more, Martin Clark offers the ideal introductory account for anyone wishing to understand how modern Italy was born. This new edition has been revised in the light of recent research and now has a greater emphasis on the losers of the conflict, the impact of Unification on the South, and the complexity of the political realities of the times. It has also been updated with useful additional material such as a Whos Who and a plate section to go alongside its carefully chosen selection of original documents. The Unification of Italy in the nineteenth century was the unlikely result of a lengthy and complex process of Italian revival ( Risorgimento ). Few Italians supported Unification and the new rulers of Italy were unable to resolve their disputes with the Catholic Church, the local power-holders in the South and the peasantry. In this fascinating account, Martin Clark examines these problems and The economic, social and religious contexts of Unification, as well as the diplomatic and military aspects The roles of Cavour and Garibaldi and also the wider European influences, particularly those of Britain and France The recent historiographical shift away from uncritical celebration of the achievement of Italian unity. Did 'Italian Unification' mean anything more than traditional Piedmontese expansionism? Was it simply an aspect of European 'secularisation'? Did it involve 'state-building', or just repression? In exploring these questions and more, Martin Clark offers the ideal introductory account for anyone wishing to understand how modern Italy was born. This new edition has been revised in the light of recent research and now has a greater emphasis on the losers of the conflict, the impact of Unification on the South, and the complexity of the political realities of the times. It has also been updated with useful additional material such as a Whos Who and a plate section to go alongside its carefully chosen selection of original documents. In The First Half Of The Twentieth-century, China Moved From A Millennium Of Imperial Rule To The Communist Party-led People's Republic Of China Which Remains Today. 'china In Transformation' Argues That This Enormously Significant Period In Chinese History Saw Wrenching Change Throughtout Chinese Society Amounting To A Social, Cultural And Political Transformation. This New, Fully Revised And Updated Edition Takes Full Advantage Of New Research And Formerly Unavailable Material To Analyse The Fascinating Processes Of Revolution, Reform, Reaction And Change In China During The Period. -- Book Jacket Pt 1: Introduction, Framework And Definitions -- Nineteenth-century Background -- Pt 2: China In Transformation: Chronological Treatment -- The End Of The Qing Period, 1900-11 -- Revolution Of Sun Yat-sen -- Warlords, New Culture, 1916-28 -- The Nationalist Movement And Revolution -- The Nanjing Decade, 1927-37 -- The Chinese Communist Party -- The War Against Japan -- Postwar China, The Civil War -- Pt 3: Themes Of Change -- Aspects Of Social Change: Family And Women, Religion And Secular Ideology -- Education And The Student Movement -- Literature And Theatre -- Pt 4: Conclusion And Evaluation -- Documents. Colin Mackerras. Previous Ed.: 1998. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [161]-169) And Index.

Thoroughly revised and expanded by Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch, this classic text now takes into account the exciting and innovative work done on Tudor England in recent years.

Written in a clear and accessible manner, the book:

• Gives a thorough account of the successive rebellions from the reign of King Henry VII through to the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603
• Seeks to understand why Tudor people rebelled and what sort of people were inclined to do so
• Draws attention to ‘high’ and ‘low’ politics and takes seriously the political concerns of the humble and unprivileged alongside the nobility and gentry
• Provides a new account of the multiple disturbances of 1549: which now emerge as far more widespread and varied than was previously apparent

Also including a selection of primary source documents, Chronology, Who’s Who of key figures and a full colour plate section, Tudor Rebellions provides an invaluable chronological account and analysis of the rebellions that affected the Kingdom of England between 1485 and 1603.

ANTHONY FLETCHERwas formerly a Professor of History at the University of Essex. DIARMAID MACCULLOCH is a Fellow of St. Cross College and Professor of the History of the Church at Oxford University.

The Vietnam War examines the conflict from its origins through to 1975 and North Vietnam’s victory. This new revised edition is completely up-to-date with current academic debates and includes new source material.

Mitchell Hall explores all the key elements of the conflict, including:

· US motivations for entering the war and the military strategies employed

· The role of the media

· The rise of domestic opposition

· The war’s impact in the US and Vietnam.

Mitchell Hall provides numerous insights into the political decisions of the Vietnamese communists, and Vietnam’s relations with other major powers, particularly China and the Soviet Union.

The main text is supported by a comprehensive documents section, and a range of study tools, including a Chronology of events, Who's Who, a Glossary of terms and a Further Reading section. Concise yet thorough, the book provides students with an accessible and stimulating introduction to the war.

Mitchell K. Hall is Professor of History at Central Michigan University. He is the author of Because of Their Faith (1990) and Crossroads: American Popular Culture and the Vietnam Generation (2005).

The Tudor age was a tumultuous one – a time of the Reformation, conspiracies, uprisings and rebellions.The Tudor Rebellions gives a chronological run-down of the major rebellions and throws light on some of the main themes of Tudor history, including the dynasty’s attempt to bring the north and west under the control of the capital, the progress of the English Reformation and the impact of inflation, taxation and enclosure on society.Successive versions of Tudor Rebellions have been central to understanding Tudor politics since 1968, when Anthony Fletcher first published his book. Now nearly four decades later, Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch has once more thoroughly revised and expanded this classic text to take into account exciting and innovative work on the subject in recent years. The Unification Of Italy In The Nineteenth Century Was The Unlikely Result Of A Lengthy And Complex Process Of Italian Revival (risorgimento). Few Italians Supported Unification And The New Rulers Of Italy Were Unable To Resolve Their Disputes With The Catholic Church, The Local Power Holders In The South And The Peasantry. This New Edition Has Been Revised In The Light Of Recent Research And Now Has A Greater Emphasis On The 'losers' Of The Conflict, The Impact Of Unification On The South, And The Complexity Of The Political Realities Of The Times. It Has Also Been Updated With Useful Additional Material Such As A Who's Who And A Plate Section To Go Alongside Its Carefully Chosen Selection Of Original Documents.--jacket. Martin Clark. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The League of Nations-pre-cursor to the United Nations-was founded in 1919 as a response to the First World War to ensure collective security and prevent the outbreak of future wars. It was set up to facilitate diplomacy in the face of future international conflict, but also to work towards eradicating the causes of war by promoting social and economic justice. The philosophy behind much of the League's fascinating and varied work was to help create satisfied populations who would reject future threats to the peace of their world Introduction: organising the peace of the world What was the League of Nations? How new was the League of Nations? A promising start? disputes, borders and national minorities in the 1920s International humanitarian action: refugees and security Removing the causes of war: social and economic projects The League betrayed: collective security in the 1930s and disarmament Conclusion: assessing the League of Nations Documents. Describing the period 1815-1832 as 'The birth of a new age', this book considers the tremendous forces of change operating after industrialisation and discusses the achievement of Lord Liverpool's administration in containing these pressures, thereby leading the way to evolutionary change rather than revolution. This book offers an introduction to the Vietnam War - a war which was enormously influential in shaping the political, diplomatic, economic, and military life of both the US and Vietnam. The book's main focus is on the war itself up to 1975