Belt and Road Reboot

Belt and Road Reboot

Author: Bradley C. Parks

Publisher:

Published: 2023

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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In this study, we provide myth-busting evidence about the changing nature, scale, and scope of China’s overseas development program. Our analysis is based on the 3.0 version of AidData’s Global Chinese Development Finance (GCDF) dataset, which is a uniquely comprehensive and granular source of information about 20,985 projects committed from 2000-2021 across 165 low- and middle-income countries supported by loans and grants from official sector institutions in China worth more than $1.3 trillion. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, we do not find that Beijing’s annual lending and grant-giving to the developing world has plummeted to nearly zero. It remains the world’s single largest official source of international development finance. Our analysis also reveals new insights about Beijing’s ongoing bid to de-risk the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)—and outflank its competitors. We document the specific measures that China is taking to manage three different types of risk in its overseas project portfolio: (1) repayment risk, (2) environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risk, and (3) reputational risk. The G7, we argue, should not underestimate the ambition of Beijing’s ongoing efforts to future-proof its flagship, global infrastructure initiative.


American Reboot

American Reboot

Author: Will Hurd

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2023-03-14

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 1982160772

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From former US Congressman and CIA Officer Will Hurd, a “how-to guide with a prescription for getting the nation on the right footing” (Politico) and “a clarion call for a major political pivot” (San Antonio Report) rooted in the timeless ideals of bipartisanship, inclusivity, and democratic values. “Hurd has the biography and the charisma and the God-given political chops to put the Republican Party—and the rest of the country—on notice.” —THE ATLANTIC It’s getting harder to get big things done in America. The gears of our democracy have been mucked up by political nonsense. To meet the era-defining challenges of the 21st century, our country needs a reboot. In American Reboot, Hurd, called “the future of the GOP” by Politico, provides a “detailed blueprint” (Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense, 2006–2011) for America grounded by what Hurd calls pragmatic idealism—a concept forged from enduring American values to achieve what is actually achievable. Hurd takes on five seismic problems facing a country in crisis: the Republican Party’s failure to present a principled vision for the future; the lack of honest leadership in Washington, DC; income inequality that threatens the livelihood of millions of Americans; US economic and military dominance that is no longer guaranteed; and how technological change in the next thirty years will make the advancements of the last thirty years look trivial. Hurd has seen these challenges up close. A child of interracial parents in South Texas, Hurd survived the back alleys of dangerous places as a CIA officer. He carried that experience into three terms in Congress, where he was, for a time, the House’s only Black Republican, representing a seventy-one percent Latino swing district in Texas that runs along 820 miles of the US-Mexico border. As a cyber security executive and innovation crusader, Hurd has worked with entrepreneurs on the cutting edge of technology to anticipate the shockwaves of the future. Hurd, who the Houston Chronicles calls “a refreshing contract to the panderers, petty demagogues, and political provocateurs who reign these days,” draws on his remarkable experience to present “a call to Americans to consider the most contentious issues of our times more holistically” (The Atlantic). He outlines how the Republican party can look like America by appealing to the middle, not the edges. He maps out how leaders should inspire rather than fearmonger. He forges a domestic policy based on the idea that prosperity should be a product of empowering people, not the government. He articulates a foreign policy where our enemies fear us and our friends love us. And lastly, he charts a forceful path forward for America’s technological future. We all know we can do better. It’s time to hit “ctrl alt del” and start the American Reboot.


The Great British Reboot

The Great British Reboot

Author: Alex Brummer

Publisher: Yale University Press

Published: 2020-11-10

Total Pages: 361

ISBN-13: 030025251X

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An optimistic exploration of how, through radical economic reform, the United Kingdom can prosper and flourish in the new global economy Taking a refreshingly realistic approach, Alex Brummer outlines how our current moment can be reshaped into an unprecedented opportunity for economic prosperity. With a new long-term approach, Britain can capitalize on the ever-changing global market, its brilliant research universities, and new technological developments. Drawing on firsthand interviews with the leading minds in business and his own expertise as a seasoned economic journalist, Brummer creates an inspiring investigation into how careful planning and innovative reform can lead to a flourishing economy after Brexit.


Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy under Xi Jinping

Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy under Xi Jinping

Author: Arthur S. Ding

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2020-11-23

Total Pages: 354

ISBN-13: 1000224376

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This book focuses on China’s future under Xi Jinping’s authoritarian leadership by examining various facets of the political, economic, social and foreign policy trajectories of contemporary China. It assesses Xi Jinping’s power dynamic as the ‘core’ leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and analyses the impact of Xi’s signature domestic policies which demonstrate his political authority within the domestic sphere. Moreover, the book presents Xi’s pro-active, assertive and action-oriented outlook as a foundation for China’s diplomacy in the ‘new era’. Bringing together an international set of experts in the field who explore critical facets of China under Xi Jinping that deeply influence the regional as well as the global order, the book investigates the impact of Chinese initiatives such as the grand Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB). Importantly, the book illustrates US-China relations and outlines how this relationship will intensify in the post-COVID-19 era, which is poised to be one of the biggest challenges and turning points of the ‘Asian Century’. Offering a timely insight into China’s future and the trajectory of Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power, this book will be of interest to academics in the fields of China Studies, Asian and International Politics and International Relations.


Summary of Will Hurd's American Reboot

Summary of Will Hurd's American Reboot

Author: Everest Media,

Publisher: Everest Media LLC

Published: 2022-04-09T22:59:00Z

Total Pages: 32

ISBN-13: 1669382974

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Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 I visited a tardeada in the Democratic stronghold of Eagle Pass, Texas, in 2009. I was invited to the Don’t Quit, Spit Blood Ranch party. When I got closer, hundreds of heads turned and fixed their gaze on me. It was like an old Western. #2 I had been trained for this situation. It was like being at a diplomatic reception when I was in the CIA looking to bump a target of interest. I gave the same answer to everyone: Why am I here. Because I like to drink beer and eat barbecue, too. #3 The 23rd district of Texas is a prime example of how the Republican Party needs to change its mindset if it wants to win elections again. The district is dominated by Latino voters, and has been voting consistently half Republican and half Democrat for the last decade and a half. #4 To make the Republican Party more reflective of America, we must take four steps. First, we must accept that the 2020 election was lost. Second, we must stop peddling conspiracy theories like those that led to the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021. Third, we must broaden family values from its historical views on religion, marriage, and family structure. And fourth, we must appeal to voters of color.


The Survival Nexus

The Survival Nexus

Author: Charles Weiss

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2021-09-29

Total Pages: 385

ISBN-13: 0190946288

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Technology and science can enable us to create a richer, healthier, sustainable, and equitable world, but they can also lead to global disaster. After all, human technical, political, economic, business, and ethical decisions determine the impact of scientific discoveries and technological innovations... In this book, Charles Weiss explores the intertwining of science, technology, and world affairs that affects everything from climate change and global health to cybersecurity, biotechnology, and geoengineering. Compact and readable, the book ties together ideas and experiences arising from a broad range of diverse issues, ranging from the structure of the energy economy to the future of work and the freedom of the internet. The Survival Nexus highlights opportunities to mobilize science and technology for a better world through technological innovations that address global health, poverty, and hunger. It alerts the reader to the Earth-in-the balance risks stemming from the decline in the international cooperation that once kept the dangers of pandemics, climate change, and nuclear war in check. It warns of the challenge to democracies from the multi-faceted global information and cyber-wars being waged by authoritarian powers. Central to the global problems it explores are questions of basic ethics: how much are people willing to respect scientific facts, to act today to forestall long-run dangers, and to ensure equitable sharing of the benefits, costs, and risks arising from advances in science and technology. Weiss clearly explains the technical principles underlying these issues, showcasing why scientists, policy makers, and citizens everywhere need to understand how the mix of science and technology with politics, economics, business, ethics, law, communications, psychology, and culture will shape our future. This important nexus underpins issues critical to human survival that are overlooked in the broader context of world affairs.


Reboot

Reboot

Author: Domino Finn

Publisher: Blood & Treasure

Published:

Total Pages: 389

ISBN-13:

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Rated E for Epic Tad Lonnerman is having a crappy day stuck in crappy traffic late to a crappy meeting. On the bright side, his game development career is the only non-crappy thing he has going for him, so life isn't all bad. At least until he dies. Now Tad finds himself uploaded to a beta test of Haven, an unannounced hyper-immersive MMO where the dead have a second chance at life. It's not virtual reality, it's digital reality. A true afterlife online. Except Haven isn't exactly blissful paradise. Tad bumbles into a pagan blood feud, crosses paths with fallen angels, and gets lied to by saints. His only allies? A frat boy with a penchant for dying and a pixie who won't give him the time of day. Second chances be damned. All Tad wants is to return to his old life, and he'll do anything for the opportunity. Even make a deal with the devil. If you like Ernest Cline, Aleron Kong, Travis Bagwell, Matt Dinniman, or Luke Chmilenko, then you are going to love Domino Finn's contribution to the never-back-down hero who works smarter not harder. What readers are saying: ⚡⚡ "Finally a book series that combines my two favorite pastimes—reading and gaming!" ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "A shining beacon of hope in the LitRPG genre." ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "It speaks directly to my nerdy gamer heart. Entertaining, witty, and a blast." ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "No game company could make a game as good as this book!" ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "Domino Finn continues to wow." ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "I rarely give out five star reviews but this one deserves it. Superb plotting, pacing and exposition. Humor, angst, and well-developed characters using ingenuity and intelligence to solve their problems kept me reading straight through the night." ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "Nonstop action and just plain good storytelling." ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "Who knew the afterlife could be so fun?" ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "Fast read. Good narrative. Gigantic climax." ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "Exhilarating from first to last." ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "I like this author so much, I would literally cut off my own leg if I was stuck under a boulder just to crawl to my phone to download his next book." ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "Stacked with great story and fighting." ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "I cheered, I booed, I may have even pumped my fist, much to the dismay of the cat beside me. 5 stars!" ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "For non-gamers this is a 5 star book. For gamers it deserves the unavailable 6th star." ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "Stunning in all aspects - a must read - you will kick yourself for not doing so!" ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "A triple-A title you won't find on Steam. I really like Ready Player One, but Afterlife Online is on another level." ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "I'd choose a Domino Finn novel over Brandon Sanderson every day of the week!" ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "Talon is such a badass. Izzy, Kyle, and the rest of the gang rock." ⚡⚡ ⚡⚡ "Stop what you're doing and go out and buy this book. Buy the whole series, it is seriously FEPIC." ⚡⚡


China's International Projection in the Xi Jinping Era

China's International Projection in the Xi Jinping Era

Author: Lorenzo Bencivelli

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2020-10-21

Total Pages: 110

ISBN-13: 3030542122

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This book illustrates the current state of China’s economic and trade relations from the perspective from different countries in the Xi Jinping era. The content is divided into five parts, the first of which traces the development of the Chinese economy starting with the reforms of the 1980s. The second part notes some distinctive elements of China’s positioning in the global economy, while the third describes the state of relations between the United States and China under the Trump presidency. The fourth part focuses on diplomatic and economic equilibria in East Asia, Central and Southern Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. In turn, the last part addresses relations between China and various European countries. Given its scope, the book is a must-read for economists, policymakers and professionals from around the globe, interested in a better understanding of China’s economic prospects in the Xi Jinping era.


NATO 2.0

NATO 2.0

Author: Sarwar A. Kashmeri

Publisher: Potomac Books, Inc.

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 265

ISBN-13: 1597977780

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On September 5, 2009, the commanding officer of NATO's German troops in Afghanistan ordered a U.S. Air Force fighter to destroy two fuel trucks hijacked by theTaliban. Within hours, he was being investigated by German prosecutors for the murder of innocent civilians--collateral damage. Under German law its forces can only be deployed for peacekeeping; America might be at war in Afghanistan, but Germany is not. Germany is not the only country that sets strict conditions on its NATO troops. Half of the allied forces in Afghanistan operate under restricted battlefield conditions. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower stormed the beaches of Normandy with an Allied army that followed his every command; in Afghanistan military commanders must consult a checklist to figure out which allied soldiers can be sent into battle. NATO today is a shadow of what it used to be--the world's most formidable military alliance. Its original reason for existence, the Soviet Union, disintegrated years ago, and its dreams of being a world cop are withering in the mountains of Afghanistan. But eliminating NATO is not the answer, argues Sarwar Kashmeri. It is, for Americans and Europeans, still the safety net of last resort. Kashmeri believes NATO's future usefulness depends on its ability to partner with CSDP, Europe's increasingly successful security and defense establishment. It is time for NATO 2.0, a new version of NATO, to fit the realities of the twenty-first century.


The Strongmen

The Strongmen

Author: Hans Kribbe

Publisher: McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP

Published: 2020-10-22

Total Pages: 238

ISBN-13: 0228004721

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Seven decades after the liberation of Europe, the strongmen of global politics are back, dominating not only the headlines but international relations, the global economy, and the world's security. The strongman has a style and strategy of leadership that is anathema to the liberal democratic norms and practices of Europe. He (it is always he) challenges principles of consensus and collaboration, willingly tears up trade agreements, invades territory, and seeks to provoke and disrupt the status quo in order to achieve advantage. Such behaviour confounds and frustrates his counterparts abroad and yet, as this book shows, it can be anticipated, even understood, offering hope for dealing with and neutralizing it. Hans Kribbe draws on a range of political ideas to provide insight into the strongman's seemingly irrational and idiosyncratic behaviour and to better understand how he wields power and to what end. With the world's largest economies, including Europe's key ally, as well as strategic neighbouring states controlled by strongmen - Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan - Europe must learn to adapt and respond if it is to beat them at their own game.