Thomas Paine arrived in America from England in 1774. A friend of Ben Franklin, he was a writer of poetry and tracts condemning the slave trade. In 1775, as hostilities between Britain and the colonies intensified, Paine wrote "Common Sense" to encourage the colonies to break the British exploitative hold through independence.

This profound exploration delves into the nature of human societies, governance, and the pursuit of the good life. Aristotle meticulously analyzes various political systems, the role of citizens, and the virtues necessary for a just society. Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the principles underpinning modern political theory and the quest for justice.

This book examines the history of democracy, a form of government in which power ultimately resides with all citizens, rather than with an individual, a small group, or a single political party.

This book examines fascism, a form of government in which individuals exist to serve the state.

"A contrarian yet highly engaging account of the spread of illiberal and anti-democratic sentiment throughout our culture that places responsibility on the citizens themselves. Over the past three decades, citizens of democracies who claim to value freedom, tolerance, and the rule of law have increasingly embraced illiberal politicians and platforms. Democracy is in trouble -- but who is really to blame? In Our Own Worst Enemy, Tom Nichols challenges...

In this fascinating foray into the centuries-old relationship between science and military power, acclaimed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and writer-researcher Avis Lang examine how the methods and tools of astrophysics have been enlisted in the service of war. "The overlap is strong, and the knowledge flows in both directions," say the authors, because astrophysicists and military planners care about many of the same things: multi-spectral detection,...

This documentary is the story of an attempt to build a twenty-first-century progressive movement in the United States. Five remarkable individuals wrestle with persistent racial injustice, growing economic inequality, and the corrupting influence of money in politics against the backdrop of an extraordinary 2016 presidential race. From the presidential-campaign trail with Senator Bernie Sanders to a local race in the failing economy of rural West...

Bridging the vital concepts of classical political thought and the language of everyday modern political discourse, this comprehensive ready-reference handbook explains the central ideas and recurring themes that inform the Western political tradition.

Debate is a form of conflict conducted through words, arguments, and the ability to exchange ideas civilly among people we disagree with. But what happens when debate fails? Is violence then inevitable? What prompts leaders and countries to turn conflict into war? In this conversation with retired U.S. Army General David H. Petraeus and historian Lord Andrew Roberts, guest moderator Xenia Wickett speaks with them about their new book Conflict: The...

In the Sahara Desert, two elite intelligence agents are on the trail of a powerful group of drug-smuggling terrorists, risking their lives -- and, when they fall desperately in love, their careers -- at every turn. Nearby, a beautiful young widow fights against human traffickers while travelling illegally to Europe with the help of a mysterious man who may not be who he says he is. In China, a senior government official with vast ambitions for himself...