Out of Evil: New International Politics and Old Doctrines of War | 
| Author: Stephen Chan
Publisher: University of Michigan Press
Category: Book
List Price: $22.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 1419589
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 176
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6
ISBN: 047203085X
Dewey Decimal Number: 327.117
EAN: 9780472030859
ASIN: 047203085X
Publication Date: January 31, 2005
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Condition: New Book. Paperback.
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Product Description
George Bush's "Axis of Evil" was the expression of a new rhetoric of morality in world affairs, mirroring the ideology of the president and his neoconservative policy advisors. In its fight against evil, the U.S. has economically and politically broken the Soviet Union, waged war against Afghanistan, toppled the Taliban regime, confronted Al-Qaeda, and threatened Syria, Iran, and Northern Korea. But what is this notion of "evil," which has become part of the language of international politics? What are its historical origins and its moral, political, and legal foundations? Is the fight against evil merely a new form of imperialism?
In this powerful new book, Stephen Chan tackles the notion of evil in international relations and warns against its potency as a tool for policy makers. The war of ideas is closely examined and its practical and political implications---from Francis Fukuyama's The End of History and the Last Man to Samuel Huntington's The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order to Robert Kagan's Of Paradise and Power---are given close critical attention.
The greatest danger in combating what is broadly defined as evil, Chan concludes, lies in a failure to grasp its nuanced nature in favor of attempts to vanquish it with unprecedented might.
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Out of Evil by Stephen Chan March 26, 2006
Background
1.Title and Subject.The book `' Out of Evil `' deals with post Cold-War international politics, in which the world stands divided between the notions of `Good' and `Evil' based on different perceptions.
Author
2.Stephen Chan is a professor of international relations and dean of law and social studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. The schools' mission is to understand and research the history, culture, language, religion, law, politics and economic problems of African, Middle Eastern and Far Eastern countries. The book "Robert Mugabe" a life of power and violence has also been written by Stephen Chan.
Thesis
3. The writer suggests that instead of waging the "War on Evil" ,the understanding of what is being termed as `Evil' is required in getting the world out of the notion of `Evil' ; with a caution, that USA wishes to imperialise the world by exploiting the so called `War on Evil' (War on Terror)'.
Contents
4.The book consists of three parts, titled as `The War on Evil', `A Short History of the Axis of Evil' and `Out of Evil'. All the three parts consist of two chapters each.
(a)War on Evil (Part-I). First chapter describes that the concept of `Good' and `Evil' had always existed in the West. During
Cold-War, the West was `Good' and USSR was `Evil'. After disintegration of USSR, Islam was termed as the new `Evil'. The second chapter discusses as to how the new `Evil' was given flesh and location by USA, and Afghanistan was attack in the name of `War on Terror'. It is also cautions that USA wants to control the Third World through concepts of core (West) and periphery (Third World) in which the core controls the periphery.
(b)A Short History of Axis of Evil (Part-II).The author gives an account of the glory which Baghdad, Basra and Ur enjoyed in the past. It follows history of Iraq, rise of Sadam Hussain, first and second Gulf Wars and USA's application of doctrine of `Shock and Awe' in first and second Gulf Wars. In the second chapter, the writer discusses the threat of Syria, Iran and North Korea i.e.the `Axis of Evil'.
(c)Out of Evil (Part-III).The author expresses that West is `Good' and the rest of the world is `Evil'; only because now power justifies the `Good' instead the `Good' justifying the use of power. He warns that though both Europe and USA were victors of the Clod-WAR but now USA wants to sideline Europeans. USA is acquiring power, to decide what is good; then use doctrine of "shock and Awe' to imperialize the world. Hence the history is repeating once again. The writer also warns USA to analyse the causes of 9/11 attacks and her deficiencies to check these attacks which were being planned in USA itself. He warns that USA can face other such attacks and even mass scale war by the third world as the history would repeat itself yet again. He also underlines that to get out of the notion of `Evil', not war but understanding of the so called new `Evil' is required.
Evaluation
5.The book aptly covers the following aspects: -
(a)The notions of `Good' and `Evil' as conceived by different actors.
(b)The branding of Islam as `Evil' in post Cold-War scenario.
(c)American policy to give physical form to the notion of `Evil' in the shape of Al-Qaeda, Osama-bin Laden and the attack on Afghanistan.
(d)USA's contentions to extend the war on `Axis of Evil' i.e Iraq, Iran and North Korea.
(e)The concerns that USA is out to imperialise the world by exploiting the `War on Terror'.
6.The book is also justified in cautioning USA to refrain from imposing war on others because it needs to understand the so called `Evil'.
7.The book is based on historical and ethical reasoning and not on self-seeking economic interests of the powerful nations and hence may not affect the policies of USA.
8.The book is not for a common reader and the readership is limited to those having an in depth research on religion, history and international politics.
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