Community News & Press Releases

We are pleased to announce that 'Simply to Be Americans? Literary Radicals Confront Monopoly Capitalism, 1885-1938 ' by Joel Wendland-Liu has been reviewed by Elisabeth Armstrong (Smith College, Northampton, MA) in ‘Socialism and Democracy’, Vol. 40, No. 2, 174–177. (Published online on 18 Aug 2026):Joel Wendland-Liu picks up the gauntlet thrown down by W.E.B. DuBois in the ambitious cultural history, “Simply to Be Americans?”. DuBois posed the question at an NAACP dinner in 1926 of whether his audience aspired simply to be Americans or sought a more emancipatory future. DuBois answered the question with a resounding no, to be simply American on its terms would never suffice. “’America,’” as Wendland-Liu describes, “configured as a collectivity composed of white, racially pure human beings, although fraught with the presence of non-beings, substantiates, mystifies, and fetishizes racial whiteness as a metonym for the perfectible nation, state power, and ‘bad faith’ required by 100% Americanism” […] Wendland-Liu places in conversation a wide range of radical authors and their literary production between 1885 and 1938 to develop the deeper, and more difficult answer to DuBois’s question. […] Each chapter skillfully weaves together close readings of several authors on key themes of fugitivity, anti-patriarchy, anti-capitalism, anti-Black and anti-immigrant racism. […] The answers to DuBois’s challenge from 1926 are still resonant one hundred years later. […] These are all current debates and answers, ones we join in today’s politics. […] [Extract from book review at the journal ‘Socialism and Democracy’, Vol. 40, No. 2, 174–177. (Published online on 18 Aug 2026). Reviewer: Elisabeth Armstrong (Smith College, Northampton, MA). https://doi.org/10.1080/08854300.2026.2710485 ]Find out more about the book and order your copy here: Simply to Be Americans? Literary Radicals Confront Monopoly Capitalism, 1885-1938| Recommended by CHOICE, June 2026 Vol. 63 No. 10 |'Simply to Be Americans?' delves into the transformative power of radical U.S. literature from the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries, uncovering how writers boldly confronted the intertwined forces of Americanism, capitalism, racism, imperialism, and patriarchy. Through the works of visionaries like Lucy Parsons, Albert Parsons, and Sutton Griggs, this book reveals how early literary radicals challenged the foundations of monopoly capitalism and white supremacy, planting the seeds for a culture of resistance that would flourish in the decades to come.Exploring the speculative genius of Mark Twain, Jack London, Gertrude Nafe, and W.E.B. Du Bois, 'Simply to Be Americans?' showcases how allegory and satire became powerful tools to dismantle nationalism, imperialism, and racial hierarchies. While these pioneers often grappled with the complexity of these systems, a study of their work illuminated both the possibilities and limitations of early radical thought.As the twentieth century unfolded, U.S. writers embraced revolutionary internationalism, forging connections between domestic struggles and global anti-imperialist movements. Figures like John Reed and Hubert Harrison championed solidarity across borders, while the Russian Revolution and worldwide labor uprisings inspired a new wave of politically charged art. Writers like Genevieve Taggard and W.E.B. Du Bois called for literature that expresses urgent struggles against systemic oppression.In the 1920s and 1930s, luminaries like Mary Burrill, Jean Toomer, Langston Hughes, H.T. Tsiang, Josefina Niggli, Lola Ridge, and Dorothy West rejected assimilation, exposing American society’s capitalist and imperialist core. Their works vividly exposed the intersections of race, class, and gender, advocating for unity among the oppressed.'Simply to Be Americans?' redefines the legacy of U.S. radical literature, tracing its evolution and celebrating its enduring impact. This groundbreaking study reveals how these writers critiqued their world and laid the foundation for future movements against exploitation and injustice, offering timeless insights into today’s struggles.

We are pleased to announce that 'Hannes Meyer: Soviet Architect. Life and Work in the USSR, 1930–1936 ' by Tatiana Efrussi has been reviewed by Daniel Talesnik (University of Bath) in 'The Russian Review', Vol. 85, No. 4.:In this outstanding book, Tatiana Efrussi follows Swiss architect Hannes Meyer through his Sovietness in the making, unfolding Meyer’s political activities and architectural and urban projects chronologically through six intense years that coincided with a tumultuous period. Meyer was a con- vert who had embraced militant Marxism after being expelled from the directorship of the Bauhaus and moved to Moscow—initially with a group of Bauhaus graduates—and we learn from his texts and letters details of his newfound belief and efforts, which involved rebranding his Bauhaus tenure as already a Marxist pedagogical project. This political allegiance would be with him for the rest of his life, even if he eventually understood that there was no place for him in the Soviet Union, as he leaves before the first show trials in 1936.[…] A necessary book about the history of foreigners, in particular architects, in the Soviet Union during the 1930s. And really, relevant for everybody with an interest in history curious about how Stalinism operated at all levels.[Extract from book review at the journal 'The Russian Review', Vol. 85, No. 4. Reviewer: Daniel Talesnik (University of Bath). DOI: 0.1111/russ.70173]Find out more about the book and order your copy here: Hannes Meyer: Soviet Architect. Life and Work in the USSR, 1930–1936Swiss architect and urban planner, the second director of the Bauhaus Dessau, Hannes Meyer, spent about six years in the USSR—from 1930 to 1936. This book presents the first in-depth study of Hannes Meyer's activities during the years of early Stalinism. There is a global interest in this architect’s legacy today, but his work can hardly be understood without a closer examination of the key chapter in his career. This book is an attempt to challenge the usual Western-centered perspective and explore not only what Meyer could bring to the Soviet Union but also what he sought to learn there and how this interaction influenced his work and thinking. The somewhat provocative title underscores this thesis. A detailed reconstruction of his professional activities during this period was made possible through archival research in several countries (Russia, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) and field trips across Russia. In the end, the narrative offers a glimpse into the Soviet architectural context of the 1930s—networks, hierarchies, behavioral strategies, theories, and interpretations of major polemical concepts such as "proletarian architecture" and "socialist realism." Among the projects for "socialist cities," Meyer was commissioned to create the urban plan for the capital of the Jewish Autonomous Region in the USSR—Birobidzhan. The dedicated book chapter explores his involvement in the search for a distinct Soviet "Jewish style." Hannes Meyer, the most controversial of the architects associated with the Bauhaus, was passionately involved in politics, and available documents indicate his desire to become a "Soviet architect" at all costs. The research allows us to view Meyer not only as a victim but also as an actor in the early Stalinist system based on violence.

We are pleased to announce that 'The Life and Times of Captain John Low' by Robert Thorp has been reviewed by Dr. David F. Winkler in 'Emerging Civil War', Posted online on September 8, 2026:[...] Thorp has produced a very readable history of the CSN that broadens our understanding of the war at sea. For British readers, the chapters covering Low’s life in England before and after the American Civil War are an added bonus with Thorp’s insights regarding life during the industrial age. Well Done.[Extract from book review published on the platform 'Emerging Civil War', Posted online on September 8, 2026. Reviewer: Dr. David F. Winkler. https://emergingcivilwar.com/2026/09/08/book-review-the-life-and-times-of-captain-john-low-an-englishman-in-the-confederate-states-navy/ ]Find out more about the book and order your copy here: The Life and Times of Captain John LowCaptain John Low (1836 -1906) earned his place in history through four years of service in the Confederate States Navy (1861-1865). He served on CSS 'Fingal', 'Florida', and 'Alabama', and commanded CSS 'Tuscaloosa' and 'Ajax'. However, it would be wrong to define the man simply by his Civil War record. His seventy-year life was full of adventures, triumphs, tragedies, and altruistic philanthropy. He led a good life and was known as a good man, respected and revered by all who knew him. This book contains a detailed account of Captain Low’s whole life from cradle to grave. Using primary source documents, not available to earlier biographers, the author delves into John Low’s life to a much greater depth than any preceding work has been able to achieve. For the first time ever, his genealogy is fully divulged, allowing previously misunderstood relationships to be challenged and corrected, and the roles of his previously unknown siblings to be fully explored. Description of his military service is based on his personal log books and the eye witness accounts of his contemporaries. Along the way, the book sheds new perspectives on the roles played by his relations, Charles Green and Andrew Low of Savannah, in facilitating purchase of CSS 'Fingal'; it unmasks the mysterious Thomas Byrne, Louisiana’s secret agent, and explains the hitherto unrecognised role of Liverpool’s Isaac, Low & Co. The captain’s post-war life, firstly as a manager of Lancashire cotton mills, and latterly as a successful Liverpool businessman, is similarly illuminated with many previously unwritten facts. Anyone with an interest in Civil War history will find a wealth of new and unique material between these covers. Those who just enjoy a good biography should also be delighted.

We are pleased to announce that 'Hate speech and abusive behaviour on social media: A cross-cultural perspective' by Luiz Valério P. Trindade has been reviewed by Pragyan Chaturvedi (Banaras Hindu University, India) in 'Network' (British Sociological Association) | Issue 153, Summer 2026. Page 58:Luiz Valério de Paula Trindade is an eminent scholar in critical media studies and his intellectual oeuvre analyses the intersection of digital communication, race and structural inequality. His “Hate Speech And Abusive Behaviour On Social Media: A Cross-Cultural Perspective” represents an epistemological inquiry into contemporary digital media scholarship. […][…] the book is particularly germane for policymakers, scholars, postgraduate students and digital media activists who are interested in regulatory regimes such as platform governance and media regulation. Its epistemic critique and transcultural orientation help in developing holistic understanding of how hate speech asymmetrically influences marginalised communities, thereby jeopardising their democratic values. Holistically, Trindade’s work amounts to a substantive intervention and advances a refined interpretation in critical social media studies for assessing structurally embedded phenomena.[Extracted from book review published on 'Network' (British Sociological Association) | Issue 153, Summer 2026. Page 58. Reviewer: Pragyan Chaturvedi (Banaras Hindu University, India). https://www.britsoc.co.uk/media/27245/network_summer2026.pdf]Find out more about the book and order your copy here: Hate speech and abusive behaviour on social media: A cross-cultural perspectiveThe adverse societal impacts of social media platforms comprise a subject of global concern, given that this digital technology has become a breeding ground for the manifestation of varied forms of online harassment and abuse. Yet, most studies exploring this phenomenon have done so predominantly in Anglophone social contexts (notably, the US and the UK).Thus, the present work examines hate speech and abusive behaviour adopting an innovative cross-cultural perspective. To this end, the book analyses a sample of 108 scholarly papers originally published in three non-hegemonic languages (Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish) and encompassing 11 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, and Spain).In this context, the development of this study highlights the relevance of considering cultural, historical and linguistic factors when analysing hate speech and abusive behaviour on social media. By confronting and evaluating findings from different countries and languages, the study sheds light on how cultural norms and language use shape the manifestation and impact of online harassment and abuse.Besides, the study also reveals that social media plays the pivotal dual role of catalyst and vehicle for disseminating hate and abuse. As such, they can bring a series of adverse societal impacts upon individuals, vulnerable social groups, society, and democracy. Ultimately, social media platforms allow offenders the capability to unleash and disseminate aggressive and discriminatory ideologies, attracting numerous like-minded people to subvert and disregard any social convention constraints and norms of conviviality. Consequently, one of social media’s most significant negative impacts is the undermining of social cohesion.Therefore, the present book is of interest to students, established scholars, and researchers in various disciplines, including sociology, criminology, media and communication studies, and digital humanities. Moreover, it is recommended reading for policymakers, leaders of non-governmental organisations, educators, journalists, and anyone interested in learning more about social media’s impacts on people’s lives.

Vernon Press is pleased to announce a new episode on the New Books Network featuring Kurt Warner, author of 'False Idols: How Diversion is Destroying Democracy' (Vernon Press, 2025). Hosted by Dessy Vassileva, the episode explores the book’s timely examination of distraction, civic life, critical thinking, and the pressures currently shaping democratic responsibility. A timely discussion on diversion and democracy 'False Idols: How Diversion is Destroying Democracy' examines how modern forms of diversion shape civic life and weaken democratic responsibility. Drawing on the ancient Roman idea of “bread and circuses,” Warner explores how contemporary society is saturated with distractions that keep citizens focused on what is immediate, pleasurable, profitable, or spectacular, rather than on what is politically and socially meaningful. In the episode, Warner discusses how celebrity culture, consumerism, economic pressures, sports, politics, art, music, literature, the internet, social media, and video games can become “false idols.” These forces do not merely entertain us; they influence how we think, what we value, and how we understand our responsibilities to one another. From ancient Rome to contemporary civic life A key point of discussion is the book’s comparison between ancient Rome and the contemporary United States. Warner uses “bread and circuses” to consider how societies become complacent when citizens are absorbed by basic needs and entertainment while civic duty fades into the background. The book argues that democracy depends not only on institutions, but also on attention, critical thinking, and the willingness of citizens to engage with the common good. In this sense, 'False Idols' asks what happens when a society becomes so diverted by spectacle and consumption that it loses sight of democratic responsibility. Everyday distraction and the shaping of attention The episode also explores the book’s opening narrative, which follows an ordinary man, Chris, through a day filled with advertising, media, branding, and social pressure. This everyday scene illustrates one of the book’s central arguments: distraction is not always dramatic or obvious. It is often woven into ordinary life, shaping habits, desires, and assumptions before people have noticed its influence. Warner’s background in psychotherapy adds an important dimension to the discussion. 'False Idols' connects personal awareness with civic awareness, asking how people can recognize the forces directing their attention and reclaim the ability to think critically. Critical thinking as resistance As the conversation moves toward the book’s final themes, the episode turns to critical thinking and the possible “death of democracy.” Rather than presenting distraction as a minor cultural problem, Warner frames it as a serious democratic concern. If citizens lose the capacity to examine their beliefs, question manipulation, and resist the pull of false idols, democracy itself becomes more fragile. Ultimately, this New Books Network episode invites listeners to reflect on the relationship between attention and democracy. 'False Idols' asks what it would mean to wake up from the collective daze of distraction and choose more meaningful forms of civic, ethical, and social engagement. About the book 'False Idols: How Diversion is Destroying Democracy' is published by Vernon Press in the series 'Critical Perspectives on Social Science'. Through discussions of celebrity worship, economic culture, sports, politics, the arts, social media, video games, and critical thinking, Kurt Warner examines how modern societies can recognize the false idols they have created and recover a stronger sense of civic duty. Find out more about the book here: https://vernonpress.com/book/2124 Listen to the full podcast episode Listen to Kurt Warner’s conversation with Dessy Vassileva on the New Books Network here: https://newbooksnetwork.com/false-idols About Vernon Press Vernon Press is an independent publisher of scholarly books in the humanities and social sciences. Through its catalog, Vernon Press supports rigorous academic work and contributes to conversations that connect scholarship with wider public debates. This episode is part of Vernon Press’s ongoing collaboration with the New Books Network, bringing authors and readers together through conversations about new academic books and the ideas that shape contemporary thought.

We are pleased to announce that 'Bandwagoning in International Relations: China, Russia, and Their Neighbors' by Dylan Motin (Kangwon National University, Korea) has been reviewed by Christophe Kerdodé in 'Cahiers du Comité Asie Pacifique’ (Jeunes IHEDN association (in French)), 24e Édition. P. 146:[...] En somme, le livre apporte un éclairage novateur sur le débat entre la stratégie de l’équilibre et celle du ralliement, tout en exploitant de façon originale la littérature néoréaliste existante. Il a également le mérite d’explorer des cas souvent oubliés. L’auteur aborde frontalement des enjeux de politique internationale et propose des recommandations claires pour les décideurs. Cependant, les chercheurs non réalistes et les spécialistes des États ou régions concernés risquent de rester indifférents aux généralisations et recommandations de Motin. Le débat entre l’équilibre des puissances et le bandwagoning reste bien vivant.[Extract from book review on ‘'Cahiers du Comité Asie Pacifique’ (Jeunes IHEDN association (in French)), 24e Édition. P. 146. Reviewer: Christophe Kerdodé. https://www.jeunes-ihedn.org/2026/les-cahiers-du-comite-asie-pacifique-n24-la-guerre-hors-limites/]Find out more about the book and order your copy here: Bandwagoning in International Relations: China, Russia, and Their NeighborsWhether states balance against or bandwagon with threatening great powers remains an unsolved problem for international relations theory. One school argues that military power compels minor powers to accommodate threats, while another defends that it elicits balancing instead. With the emergence of potential hegemons in both Asia and Europe — namely China and Russia — understanding state alignment is more urgent than ever. This book shows that bandwagoning has been a rare choice in contemporary Asia and Europe. The only states that chose bandwagoning with China or Russia faced both conflicts with third rivals and low levels of U.S. assistance. Going further, I divide bandwagoning between full alignment, survival accommodation, and profit accommodation. Bandwagoners choose among these three options based on the severity of the threat posed by the potential hegemon, the intensity of third conflicts, and the level of U.S. assistance. I test this novel theory against three European (Armenia, Belarus, and Serbia) and four Asian (Cambodia, Myanmar, North Korea, and Pakistan) cases. This study is the first to provide an exhaustive and compelling explanation of bandwagoning fully compatible with neorealism and adds to the balancing-bandwagoning debate. Beyond scholarly implications, this research’s findings offer advice for policymakers concerned with the changing balance of power in Asia and Europe and how to counter China and Russia’s influence.

Vernon Press is pleased to share that author Alan Estefan Gutiérrez recently presented his book, Redacción académica en la carrera de literatura, at the Feria del Libro de la Frontera 2026 (FELIF) in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.Held at the Centro Cultural Paso del Norte, FELIF is one of the most important literary and cultural gatherings in northern Mexico. The 2026 edition brought together writers, publishers, scholars, cultural promoters, and readers for a rich program of book presentations, conversations, workshops, and artistic activities. Within this vibrant setting, Gutiérrez’s presentation offered an opportunity to discuss the role of academic writing in literary education and the importance of developing clear, rigorous, and reflective writing practices among students of literature.Redacción académica en la carrera de literatura addresses a central challenge in higher education: how to guide students in the production of academic texts that are not only formally correct but also intellectually meaningful. By focusing on writing within the context of literary studies, the book contributes to ongoing conversations about pedagogy, critical reading, argumentation, and the formation of students as researchers and writers.The presentation at FELIF featured the participation of Dr. Thelma García Jovita, full-time professor at the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez (UACJ), who served as commentator and moderator. Her contribution helped frame the book’s relevance for university teaching, academic development, and the broader educational community in Ciudad Juárez.In addition to the book presentation, Gutiérrez also participated in an interview with Radio UACJ, the radio station of the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, alongside Dr. García Jovita. The interview provided a further platform to discuss the book’s aims, its academic context, and its value for students and instructors working in literature and the humanities.For Vernon Press, the participation of Redacción académica en la carrera de literatura at FELIF 2026 highlights the importance of bringing scholarly work into public cultural spaces. Book fairs such as FELIF create meaningful encounters between authors, academic communities, students, and general readers, helping scholarly publications reach audiences beyond the classroom.We congratulate Alan Estefan Gutiérrez on the presentation of his book at FELIF 2026 and thank Dr. Thelma García Jovita for her valuable role as commentator, moderator, interviewer, and contributor to the volume.About the bookRedacción académica en la carrera de literatura is a scholarly work dedicated to academic writing in literary studies. It offers students and instructors a framework for understanding the practices, expectations, and challenges involved in producing academic texts within the field of literature.About FELIFThe Feria del Libro de la Frontera is a major cultural event in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, bringing together authors, publishers, educators, artists, and readers through a wide-ranging program of literary and cultural activities.

We are pleased to announce that 'Archaeology as a Weapon: Long-lasting legacies of colonialism and nationalism in Israel, Palestine, Cyprus and Greece' by Marie-Louise Winbladh has been reviewed by Yannis Hamilakis in ‘Antiquity’, 2026, Vol. 100 (411): 876–878:[…] Winbladh’s heart is in the right place, she is motivated by the desire to react to social injustices implicating past materialities, and has produced a book that contains valuable information. […][Extract from book review on ‘Antiquity’, 2026, Vol. 100 (411): 876–878. Reviewer: Yannis Hamilakis. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2026.10316 ]Find out more about the book and order your copy here: Archaeology as a Weapon: Long-lasting legacies of colonialism and nationalism in Israel, Palestine, Cyprus and GreeceIn Israel, Palestine, Cyprus and Greece, the reconstruction of the past through archaeology has been used to strengthen national identity. Narratives about the past and origin myths have been constructed for political purposes. Cyprus and Palestine have both suffered from British colonialism since the early twentieth century, which has had a profound influence on their cultural heritage. Through nationalism, archaeology has been exploited by far-right movements and political parties to claim ownership of heritage and has become an efficient political tool.In Israel, archaeology and religion have been exploited to construct the Israeli state and still play a crucial role. The country claims to be the conqueror of Palestine under the protection of God, who they believe gave them possession of the land. Western religious groups are convinced that it is the religious duty of Christians to support the modern nation-state of Israel. Biblical archaeology has become an ultra-religious American speciality, marked by fraud and pseudoresearch. Notorious smuggling scandals were staged by American Christian multibillionaires buying artefacts looted from the National Museum of Iraq and other countries.Looting, plundering and blacklisting are among the most serious problems in Cyprus, causing irreparable damage to artefacts, monuments and society. Palestine’s rich archaeological, historical, and religious heritage has been undermined by occupation and land confiscation. Hundreds of sites have been looted during the Israeli occupation, and an illegal trade of ancient artefacts has occurred on a large scale.Populism is frequently associated with extreme nationalism and racism. Over the past few years, white nationalists and supremacists have seized the history of Greece and Rome. White nationalists and neo-Nazis in the US have used the slogan “Classics Made Great Again” showing their obsession with ancient sculptures and their alleged whiteness. When visiting Jerusalem, the Trump administration promoted an evangelical program where the politics of moral superiority is associated with white Christian supremacy.

We are pleased to announce that 'The Enlightened Mind: Education in the Long Eighteenth Century' by Amanda Strasik has been reviewed by Katherine Arpen (Auburn University) in 'XVIII New Perspectives on the Eighteenth Century', Vol. 21, Summer 2024, pp. 103-105:[...] the volume covers an impressive diversity of material, including lesser-studied texts, artists, and art practices, as well as a recurring focus on women’s cultural contributions. The authors effectively demonstrate how eighteenth-century artworks and texts were shaped by period ideas while also serving as tools to extend those lessons within bourgeois and elite society. The essays included in the volume, in turn, enhance the reader’s knowledge on subjects of interest to multiple specializations, including eighteenth-century culture, art history, literature, and gender studies.[Extract from book review on 'XVIII New Perspectives on the Eighteenth Century', Vol. 21, Summer 2024, pp. 103-105. Reviewer: Katherine Arpen (Auburn University) https://www.seasecs.org/npec]Find out more about the book and order your copy here: 'The Enlightened Mind: Education in the Long Eighteenth Century'The rise of Enlightenment philosophical and scientific thought during the long eighteenth century in Europe and North America (c. 1688-1815) sparked artistic and political revolutions, reframed social, gender, and race relations, reshaped attitudes toward children and animals, and reconceptualized womanhood, marriage, and family life. The meaning of “education” at this time was wide-ranging and access to it was divided along lines of gender, class, and race. Learning happened in diverse environments under the tutelage of various teachers, ranging from bourgeois mothers at home, to Spanish clergy, to nature itself.The contributors to this cross-disciplinary volume weave together methods in art history, gender studies, and literary analysis to reexamine “education” in different contexts during the Enlightenment era. They explore the implications of redesigned curricula, educational categorizations and spaces, pedagogical aids and games, the role of religion, and new prospects for visual artists, parents, children, and society at large. Collectively, the authors demonstrate how new learning opportunities transformed familial structures and the socio-political conditions of urban centers in France, Britain, the United States, and Spain. Expanded approaches to education also established new artistic practices and redefined women’s roles in the arts. This volume offers groundbreaking perspectives on education that will appeal to beginning and seasoned humanities scholars alike.

We are pleased to announce that 'Permanent Wars, The Neocons, and East-West Relations' by Alexander R. Dawoody has been reviewed by Shahub Tossi in 'The Innovation Journal: The Public Sector Innovation Journal', Volume 31(1) 2026, article 5:[...] Overall, “Permanent Wars, The Neocons, and East-West Relations” is a thoughtful and well-developed contribution that not only challenges conventional approaches to international relations but also advances a more dynamic and systems-oriented understanding of global conflict. By integrating complexity theory with contemporary case analyses, Dr. Dawoody provides a compelling framework for rethinking how conflict is analyzed and addressed. For scholars and practitioners interested in innovation, public policy, and global governance, the book offers both a critique of existing paradigms, such as traditional state-centric and linear models of international relations, and a meaningful step toward more adaptive, systems-based approaches.[Extract from book review at 'The Innovation Journal: The Public Sector Innovation Journal', Volume 31(1) 2026, article 5. Reviewer: Shahub Tossi. https://innovation.cc/document/permanent-wars-the-neocons-and-east-west-relations-the-ukraine-and-gaza-wars-in-context/ ]Find out more about the book and order your copy here: Permanent Wars, The Neocons, and East-West RelationsThe focus in this book is not on the various distinctions between classic liberalism and orientalism. Such traits are specific to normative values than hurt, suffering, and victimhood by one group at the expense of another. Rather, the focus is on the dichotomy between neoliberalism and orientalism as relates to the injuries caused by neoliberalism’s harmful practices to ordinary people both in the West and the Global South.The book is a qualitative study in phenomenology, seeking to explain the nature of neoliberal-oriental dichotomy through selected observations in international relations. It builds on the kernel understanding of the dichotomy through meanings as experienced by people, especially in the developing countries (the Global South). The observations are organized in 9 chapters (including an introduction and conclusion) involving descriptive analyses of applied utilities (tools) used by neoliberalism, the state of opposition and ethnic and religious minorities in the Global South, the misuse of energy resources and conflicts, uncovering the double-standards and hypocrisy applied in the observation of selected narratives in Iraq, Ukraine, and Gaza, and the emerging of new trajectories and models for inclusion, cooperation, and peace based on interpretations by complexity sciences.The book uses narrative observations to uncover meanings and experiences in the East-West dichotomy on issues of security, national interests, militarism, alliances, and conflict resolution. The chapters examine the utilities applied by neoliberalism in furthering the divide, understanding causality, and the recommended models for bridging the contradictions toward peace and inclusion based on the complexity sciences.The purpose of this book is not just to observe the gulf between neoliberalism and orientalism but to bridge between them for the sake of healing, minimizing divisions and atrocities, and promoting progress based on shared interests. The main themes in the book are the assessments of public policy orientation in international relations, the rule of the media and social networks, and the impact of global institutions on peace, conflicts, militarism, interventions, sanctions, and regime change scenarios on the East-West dichotomy.

Vernon Press is pleased to announce that Yunus Emre Ozigci , author of 'NATO’s Meaning and Existence: Within the Interstate Intersubjectivity' , was recently featured on the New Books Network podcast. In the interview, hosted by Piotr Pietrzak , Ozigci discusses the central ideas behind his newly published book, offering listeners an accessible introduction to his original study of NATO , international relations theory , phenomenology , and interstate intersubjectivity . A New Philosophical Approach to NATO and International Relations Published by Vernon Press in May 2026, 'NATO’s Meaning and Existence' offers a distinctive and ambitious contribution to the study of NATO’s identity , alliance politics , and the philosophical foundations of international relations . Rather than approaching NATO only as a military or institutional structure, Ozigci examines it as an intersubjective phenomenon : a political community whose meaning is shaped through the perceptions, recognitions, interactions, and historical experiences of states. The book argues that entities in the sphere of international relations — including states, alliances, events, and political environments — are not merely objective facts. They are also constituted through shared meanings, temporal transformations, and acts of recognition among international actors. NATO Beyond Military Power In the New Books Network episode, the discussion highlights one of the book’s most important contributions: its effort to rethink NATO’s existence beyond conventional accounts of military power and strategic policy . Ozigci’s work explores how NATO has continued to exist through changing international environments, including the transition from bipolarity to unipolarity , the transformation of NATO-Russia relations, and the renewed geopolitical tensions surrounding Ukraine. By drawing on phenomenology and phenomenological ontology , the book offers a framework for understanding how NATO’s identity has been repeatedly redefined across different historical moments. Phenomenology, Intersubjectivity, and the Meaning of Alliances A key strength of 'NATO’s Meaning and Existence' is its interdisciplinary method. The book brings together political science , international relations theory , and continental philosophy to examine how alliances emerge, endure, and transform. The podcast introduces listeners to the book’s central claim: that studying NATO “as is” requires attention not only to material capabilities, policies, and documents, but also to the deeper structures of meaning through which states understand themselves, their counterparts, and their shared environment. This makes the book especially relevant for scholars and students interested in NATO studies , security studies , IR theory , phenomenology , European politics , and global security . About the Author Yunus Emre Ozigci holds a PhD in Political Sciences from the Université Catholique de Louvain . His academic work focuses on international relations theory , phenomenology , the transformation of international structures, and the foreign policies of major global actors. Since 2000, he has worked as a diplomat in the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs , serving in Algeria, Belgium, Switzerland, Russia, and Kenya, as well as in several directorates of the Ministry. His professional experience gives the book a rare combination of theoretical depth and diplomatic insight. Listen to the Interview and Explore the Book The New Books Network interview offers an engaging entry point into Ozigci’s study and its relevance to current debates about NATO’s future , international order , and the changing nature of interstate relations. Readers interested in the philosophical foundations of international politics, the evolution of NATO, and the role of meaning in global affairs are encouraged to listen to the full episode and explore the book. Listen to the podcast: New Books Network: Yunus Emre Ozigci on 'NATO’s Meaning and Existence' Order the book: 'NATO’s Meaning and Existence: Within the Interstate Intersubjectivity'

We are pleased to announce that 'NATO’s Meaning and Existence: Within the Interstate Intersubjectivity' by Yunus Emre Ozigci, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye (Turkey) has been reviewed by Piotr Pietrzak in ‘Journal of Liberty and International Affairs’ 12 (1):200-203:[…] His “NATO’s Meaning and Existence” (2026), like his previous publications, does not follow the standard script of recycled, uninspiring solutions drawn from outdated textbooks to address contemporary problems. Instead, it offers genuine insight into modern foreign policy, informed by decades of diplomatic experience: he currently serves in Turkey’s diplomatic corps in one of the most geostrategically significant regions of Africa. This book provides a contemplative critique of NATO’s nature, in contrast to conventional political textbooks that often repeat flattering slogans without critical reflection. […][Extract from book review on the ‘Journal of Liberty and International Affairs’ 12 (1):200-203. Reviewer: Piotr Pietrzak. https://doi.org/10.47305/jlia.2026.2126]Find out more about the book and order your copy here: 'NATO’s Meaning and Existence: Within the Interstate Intersubjectivity'Entities, events, phenomena and states of affairs of the sphere of international relations/ interstate interactions are purely intersubjective recognisances. Their “subjects”, in particular the States, are themselves pre-theoretically, intersubjectively co-constituted and temporalised, ascribed with subject qualities especially in their “interactions” and experienced as such through intentional acts of perceiving, defining, remembering, anticipating, judging and so on. The said ascription includes their own community-building dynamics within an also intersubjectively given environment of interstate interactions. NATO is one of the most prominent State-communities. It has not only been defined by but has also been a constituent of the environment in which it existed. It gained its meaning from its existential relationship with its constituent State-subjects, its interactional counterparts and the meaningful appearance of its “environment”, and also made part of their meaningful appearances. NATO existed through transformations of environment and counterpart(s), continuing to be valid and viable in different identities and temporalisations. It is currently being re-identified and re-temporalised face to a new transformation of the interstate environment.Studying NATO requires co-studying its constituents, counterparts and environment in their substances and temporal states as they are given pre-theoretically, immediately, intersubjectively, which form parts of an expanded, existential kind of reality lived and lived-within by true subjects, replacing the objectivity in its narrow sense with meaningfulness, appearing as objectivity itself on the ground of a universal, pre-theoretical, immediate familiarity and intelligibility ground. Studying NATO “as is” in its identities and temporalisations with its environment, constituents and counterparts requires access to that pre-theoretical ground of meaningful, intersubjective appearances. Here, phenomenology and the phenomenological ontology offer useful concepts and tools which, due to the particular nature of the IR field, complement each other for conducting such a study of the “being and time” of NATO.