With the hindu-nationalist BJP seeking re-election, the rhetoric from Indian politics is expected to be quite polarising in the run-up to the vote. Dr James Rogers – Drones & Military Technology Analyst, Drones and Terrorism: Asymmetrical Warfare and the Threat to Global Security (Nicholas Grossman). published 2011, avg rating 4.23 — Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Understanding the history and situation of Taipei and Beijing’s relationship will be critical in the coming year: China’s “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) plan to revive the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road for the modern world continue to press on despite economic uncertainty and debt-trap concerns amongst Beijing’s “partner” nations. The foll, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), A Socioeconomic History of Hezbollah: The Breakdown of the State, A Socioeconomic History of Hezbollah: The Downfall of the PLO, To Dare More Boldly: The Audacious Story of Political Risk, Intelligence Elsewhere: Spies and Espionage Outside the Anglosphere, Anatomy of Terror: From the Death of bin Laden to the Rise of the Islamic State, The Future of Terrorism: ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and the Alt-Right, Relentless Strike: The Secret History of Joint Special Operations Command, International Law: A Critical Introduction, Shooting Up: A History of Drugs in Warfare, Mafia Life: Love, Death and Money at the Heart of Organised Crime, Divided: Why We’re Living in an Age of Walls, The China-Pakistan Axis: Asia’s New Geopolitics, Narratives of Political Violence: Life Stories of Former Militants, Choices, Inside the Making of India’s foreign Policy, How India sees the World: Kautilya to the 21st Century, Blood and Silk: Power and Conflict in Modern Southeast Asia, Drones and Terrorism: Asymmetrical Warfare and the Threat to Global Security, Drone warfare: Concepts and controversies, Reflections on the Revolution In Europe: Immigration, Islam, and the West, The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam. published 2008, avg rating 4.35 — Written by a former CIA case officer and now Professor of the Practice at the Bush School of Public Policy, Fair Play is a primer for ethics in intelligence collection. Despite the abrupt drop in terrorism-related deaths in Europe in 2018, Islam and migration-related issues continue to be heavily scrutinised from a security and political perspective. Across Central & South Asia and Africa, Chinese infrastructure projects continue to develop while little by little, small contingents of Chinese security forces are deployed in force-protection roles, garnering much suspicion along the way. ‘The Future of Terrorism‘ is an inspired piece of history, which also aims to predict the future of terrorism and political violence. As is the case globally, this will involve squaring the circle of a dynamic and frustrated polity versus an environment under unprecedented strain. published 2019, avg rating 3.81 — Updated daily. Prisoners of Geography book. Intelligence Elsewhere: Spies and Espionage Outside the Anglosphere (Philip H. J. Davies & Kristian C. Gustafson). The European Union is also continuing to push legislation on military cooperation forward in response to the combined threat of a resurgent Russia and an inwardly-focused and more volatile US administration. 4,104 ratings — Exploring oil geopolitics is a useful approach to understanding how the world works for two reasons. 9,080 ratings — published 2014, avg rating 4.24 — See below for a selection of the latest books from Geopolitics category. We would like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to our highly-involved readership, who have followed up each of our articles with excellent discussions on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Reddit. Radical Right-Wing Populist Parties in Western Europe: Into the Mainstream? While both books are now several months old, not much of President Trump’s past has been revealed through other more official channels, keeping these books relevant and fascinating. Grossman’s book provides a sweeping history of drone warfare (largely within the American context), and explores the myriad of strategic motivations and political controversies that have underpinned two decades of U.S.-centric warfare. Before Russia invaded Ukraine, it invaded Georgia. The Geopolitics of Donald Trump “There are those who regard Donald Trump as too stupid to make decisions. 10. The following are suggested for understanding the emerging East African geopolitical landscape: In central Africa, the Congo conflict – known by many as “Africa’s World War” – simmers on. 602 ratings — published -500, avg rating 3.78 — Check out our brand new guide to the 100 Best Science Books for Children! Understanding the difficulties in rekindling relations between Seoul and Pyongyang will be important in 2019, as despite the optimistic chatter from both nations, rapprochement remains a challenge. The following are worth reading for insight into Indian politics and the local context of regional geopolitics: Across the border, Pakistan’s Prime Minister – Imran Khan – will also finish his first year in office in 2019. The following reads are suggested in order to better understand the conditions that gave birth to the movement, the likely course of Islamic Extremism in 2019, and the strategies that will be employed to counter them: Libya remains tattered and in a state of turmoil, with rival governments competing for legitimacy while international powers remain divided over which factions to support. Despite this, next year will almost certainly see the group continuing to pose risks globally. Refresh and try again. The China-Pakistan Axis is a well crafted account on an often under-explored, but highly important friendship between China and Pakistan. In his latest book Tim Marshall approaches geopolitics with his characteristic engaging style; through the prism of division. Blood and Silk is a fascinating and accessible read that helps us understand why Southeast Asia is the way it is today, why so much of the region fails to fulfil its potential, and how that potential is further threatened by the repeated failures and selfishness of its leaders. Divided: Why We’re Living in an Age of Walls (Tim Marshall). Nine Great Books About Geopolitics to Read This Summer. The post-Brexit foreign policy course is also worth closely monitoring within this context, and the following are worth reading: Disintegrative tendencies have been a common theme across Europe in recent years, from the Catalonian independence movement in Spain, and increased calls for a second independence referendum in Scotland. 51,898 ratings — Geopolitical Futures. Although written before the rise of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, House’s work illustrates a holistic, but nuanced picture of the evolutionary forces changing Saudi Arabia to this day. 2,156 ratings — Easternisation: War and Peace in the Asian Century, Asia’s Cauldron: The South China Sea and the End of a Stable Pacific, Great Powers, Grand Strategies: The New Game in the South China Sea, Everything Under the Heavens: How the Past Helps Shape China’s Push for Global Power, The Third Revolution: Xi Jinping and the New Chinese State, End of an Era: How China’s Authoritarian Revival is Undermining Its Rise, China and Taiwan in Central America: Engaging Foreign Publics in Diplomacy, Taiwan’s China Dilemma: Contested Identities and Multiple Interests in Taiwan’s Cross-Strait Economic Policy, Strait Rituals: China, Taiwan, and the United States in the Taiwan Strait Crises, China’s Asian Dream: Empire Building along the New Silk Road, Silk Road 2.0: US Strategy toward China’s Belt and Road Initiative, The Impossible State: North Korea, Past and Future, North Korea: The Definitive Guide to Understanding the Hermit Kingdom, Korea’s Place in the Sun: A Modern History, Jihad in Paradise: Islam and Politics in Southeast Asia, Militant Islam in Southeast Asia: Crucible of Terror, The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One, Islam in Southeast Asia: Political, Social and Strategic Challenges for the 21st Century, India After Gandhi: The History of the World’s Largest Democracy, The Great Partition: The Making of India and Pakistan, The Billionaire Raj: A Journey Through India’s New Gilded Age, Marching with a Billion: Analysing Narendra Modi’s Govenment at Midtem, The Roots of Rhetoric: Politics of Nuclear Weapons in India and Pakistan, The Army and Democracy: Military Politics in Pakistan, Military, Inc.: Inside Pakistan’s Military Economy, Paradoxes of the Popular: Crowd Politics in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka: The Struggle for Peace in the Aftermath of War, The Most Dangerous Place: A History of the United States in South Asia, Surrender or Starve: Travels in Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, and Eritrea, Sharing the Nile: Egypt, Ethiopia and the Geo-Politics of Water, Brothers at War: Making Sense of the Eritrean-Ethiopian War, Dancing in the Glory of Monsters: The Collapse of the Congo and the Great War of Africa, The Democratic Republic of Congo: Between Hope and Despair, Consuming the Congo: War and Conflict Minerals in the World’s Deadliest Place, Democratic Republic of Congo: Mediating Ethnonationalist and Political Conflict in a Multiethnic Society, Contemporary Nigerian Politics: Competition in a Time of Transition and Terror, What Everyone Should Know About Nigerian History, Politics & Government, Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria’s Military Coup Culture, Land Divided, Land Restored: Land Reform in South Africa for the 21st Century, Cycles of Drought and Good Seasons in South Africa, Contradictions of Democracy: Vigilantism and Rights in Post-Apartheid South Africa, In the Shadow of Policy: Everyday Practices In South African Land And Agrarian Reform, American Grand Strategy in the Age of Trump, Devil’s Bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Storming of the Presidency, The Mattis Way of War: An Examination of Operational Art in Task Force 58 and 1st Marine Division, Surrender is Not an Option: Defending America at the United Nations, The Hell of Good Intentions: America’s Foreign Policy Elite and the Decline of U.S. Primacy, Divided America: The Fracturing of a Nation, Tales of Two Americas: Stories of Inequality in a Divided Nation, Polarized: Making Sense of a Divided America, Brazil: The Troubled Rise of a Global Power, Jair Bolsonaro and the chaos of the Brazilian presidential election 2018, A New Hope for Mexico: Saying No to Corruption, Violence, and Trump’s Wall, Politics in Uniform: Military Officers and Dictatorship in Brazil, Crude Nation: How Oil Riches Ruined Venezuela, Migrants and Political Change in Latin America, Forgotten Continent: A History of the New Latin America, The Migrant Passage: Clandestine Journeys from Central America. Gaby Hinsliff on the best books to come out of a busy year in politics. 93% Upvoted. Understanding this multi-polar conflict will be important for those seeking to understand African geopolitics in 2019: In West Africa, Nigeria’s election is due in 2019. Naylor, a senior writer for Army Times, traces the Command’s lineage from the failed Desert One fiasco that sparked the need for better coordination between elite Special Mission Units, the friction it encountered from military bureaucracy to its initial growing pains to its current role as the centrepiece of GWOT. Much like the equally excellent Narconomics by Tom Wainwright, Federico Varese’s Mafia Life is an investigation that reveals the deep complexity within criminal networks beyond typical assumptions, gory headlines and Netflix tropes. 2. This book is a quick read that divides the themes into easily digestible sections. Geopolitics. Virgil is one of the most influential poets in the history of Western literature. While the Russia-Georgia war of 2008 faded from the headlines, the geopolitical contest that created it did not… 355,182 ratings — $10.76. See below for a selection of the latest books from Geopolitics category. His conclusion is that Trump is not the problem, but the symptom of the failed policies of the last 30 years that have spelled the end of the American empire. During his tenure as foreign secretary and National Security Advisor, the author was party to various events such as the Mumbai terror attacks – which strained ties between India and Pakistan – and the Indo-U.S. Nuclear Deal among others. The ascension of Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia has also opened Riyadh to the possibility of renewed ties with Israel as a counterbalance to Iran. published 2012, avg rating 4.07 — With promises of a post-election drop of news from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, these books should provide a good backdrop from which to view any pending legal issues. In this annual piece – which supplements our regular geopolitical book reviews – we put forward our (rather expansive at 176 books!) 2,164 ratings — 4,026 ratings — Read the best books 2019 has to offer (we're here to guide you through your ultimate reading list). One of the best parts about summer is sitting outside with a good book. Although the previously-looming threat posed by Boko Haram has now been restricted to the country’s far north, inter-ethnic clashes – driven in part by the climate-change driven migrations of the Fulani herdsmen of President Buhari’s ethnic group – pose significant problems across the nation. Where Reasons End by Yiyun Li. It is the beginners textbook of psycho-insurgency. This year’s books may be slippery to categorize, but the state of them is strong. $11.89 #3. published 1987, avg rating 4.42 — The chapters are engaging and short enough to digest quickly, and give an eye-opening look into intelligence operations “elsewhere”. From the new “Great Game” being played out across the region between Saudi Arabia and Iran, to the internal shifts unfolding in the great houses of regional royalty and politics, 2019 is likely to be another year of critical importance for the Middle East and North Africa. Though the world might seem to be on the precipice of a great conflict given events of the last few years, we remain steadily in a period of prolonged peace. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. 10,320 ratings — Find our best selection and offers online, with FREE Click & Collect or UK delivery. Despite this, the Sultan of Oman remains a rarely seen figure, leading to rumours of his death. $11.00 #2. Geopolitical analysts are encouraged to read the following in order to explore what makes Russia tick, and the issues facing it in the next year: Throughout 2018, Russia has also been placed under significant scrutiny for a series of espionage incidents across Europe, including an assassination attempt in the UK that resulted in the death of a British citizen due to exposure to a Novichok nerve agent. Presented with a red border are the Geopolitics books that have been lovingly read and reviewed by the experts at Lovereading. School Zone - Big Preschool Workbook - Ages 3 to 5, Colors, Shapes, Numbers 1-10, Early Math, Alphabet, Pre-Writing, Phonics, Following Directions, and … Though the modern cities of Moscow and St Petersburg are seen as Russia’s pride and glory, the continued success of Putin’s political regime depends on all districts and how the people in them – no matter how distant they may be from the central authorities – continue to have pride in what Russia was, is, and could be. hide. In his afterword, he reminds the reader that these scenarios are not academic, that they have actually occurred and need to be addressed. 16 comments. 2,705 ratings — The value of the book lies mostly in the tracking of the evolution of the Joint Special Operations Command’s (JSOC) profile from reluctance from the service chiefs in its creation, the struggles for missions in its early history to the present where it is the go-to response for any GWOT related issue. published 2006, avg rating 3.89 — Algerian President Abdulaziz Bouteflika’s poor health and progressing age have birthed similar rumours, while King Salman of Saudi Arabia’s age and supposed dementia have led to the ambitious Crown Prince bin Salman taking the reins. Dedicated to the memory of her own son, who killed himself aged 16, Li’s book takes the form of a … Understanding Israel’s place in the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East will likely be highly important in 2019 as these developments continue, and the following are recommended reads: The schism in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), caused by the divergent foreign policy goals of Qatar and the other member states, has continued to impact the Arabian Peninsula this year. Grossman’s conclusions on this important trend are pertinent, well-judged, and, to put it simply, pave the way for an emerging field of scholarship on non-state drone use. The following books are suggested on this topic: The region has now seen a thorough retreat of the Islamic State extremist movement, to the point of near-total territorial collapse of the would-be Caliphate in 2017-2018. published 2018, avg rating 3.66 — Hulsman offers the reader seemingly bizarre but often entertaining examples – the British Empire, the breakup of the Beatles, Charles Manson, and the founding of the United States – to explore through the lens of political risk analysis, and the end result should sober the analytical perspective of anyone (novice or veteran) in the geopolitical industry. Walberg defines geopolitics as “the use of politics in controlling territories, where certain geographic positions are more strategic than others, for resources, historical and socio-political reasons (19). Nigel Warburton, Five Books philosophy editor and author of Thinking from A to Z, selects some of the best books on critical thinking—and explains how they will help us make better informed decisions and construct more valid arguments. published 2005, avg rating 3.63 — published 2018, avg rating 3.87 — 4,362 ratings — of the would-be Caliphate in 2017-2018. The Sahel will likely continue to pose problems for both the U.S. and European powers in 2019 as the region remains a gateway to the EU for both migrants and terrorist groups. The following books are highly recommended for deepening your understanding of Islam and its interaction with the geopolitics of the West: In many ways connected to the issue of immigration and globalisation, the region has continued to experience significant challenges surrounding the United Kingdom’s decision to depart from the European Union over the past year. Despite this, next year will almost certainly see the group continuing to pose risks globally. 324,269 ratings — Drawing on his decades of experience as both a journalist and a conflict negotiator in the region, Blood and Silk paints a vivid picture of modern Southeast Asia in all its myriad complexities. published 2020, avg rating 3.92 — Alexander Stafford – Chinese Affairs and Defence Analyst, Blood and Silk: Power and Conflict in Modern Southeast Asia (Michael Vatikiotis). In this delightfully mysterious novel, Bertha Truitt turns up unconscious and almost frozen in a New England cemetery. 12,588 ratings — FT readers’ best books of 2019 so far. Hardcover. Understanding this schism, along with the wider Ukraine-Russia conflict is strongly advised for geopolitical observers in 2019: To Russia’s West in the Baltics, the buildup of NATO forces is ongoing, while the Kremlin has responded in kind inside the Kaliningrad oblast and Russia itself. We asked you to share and recommend what you’ve been reading . 35,783 ratings — Relentless Strike traces the history of the mysterious military organisation that has been at the forefront of the Global War on Terror (GWOT). The once hopeful presidency of Muhammadu Buhari now appears to be gripped by ineffectiveness, while the security situation across the country remains in flux. Have fun! An understanding of the foundations of this relationship is essential for those wishing to navigate the continuing impact of the rift in 2019. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. published 2011, avg rating 3.86 — It is fascinating to see this historical snapshot both in the context of the era and in the modern context, where we once again see Iraq divided and its peoples fractured. Read something else if you want to know the science or the strategy or the reasoning behind a Hellfire missile. All in all, it will be quite an eventful year for the region, and the following are worth reading for greater insight: Africa has continued to draw little geopolitical attention this year, overshadowed by issues elsewhere in the world. Encyclopedia Geopolitica is a collaborative effort to bring you thoughtful insights on world affairs. published 2017, avg rating 4.23 — We suspect that 2019 will be an equally exciting year in the world of geopolitics, and we hope to be able to continue bringing you insightful and informative articles on those niche and under-examined geopolitical developments that we have tried to accurately capture this year. In The Revenge of Geography, Kaplan builds on the insights, discoveries, and theories of great geographers and geopolitical thinkers of the near and distant past to look back at critical pivots in history and then to look forward at the evolving global scene. Hardcover. This is one of the most original and engaging historical analyses of conflict of recent years, and while the translation from the author’s original Polish is occasionally clumsy, anglophone analysts’ knowledge will be hugely enhanced by its conversion. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Yiyun Li. published 2015, avg rating 4.12 — This brilliant piece explores a set of “10 commandments of political risk analysis” and examines previous analytical predictions throughout history that have been staggeringly incorrect, often as the result of institutionalised thinking. Dedicated to the memory of her own son, who killed himself aged 16, Li’s book takes the form of a … 1,762 ratings — Book Riot. First, observing the energy flows within a complex system provides a first principles based perspective of that system. 2019 will see the transition period of the UK’s departure begin, and will almost certainly be a determining watershed for the following decades of British domestic and international geopolitics, and as such the following books are worthwhile reads for understanding the factors that have driven this situation: One of the most interesting developments of 2018 has been the growing EU-US geopolitical rift, driven by myriad factors but most notably by strains placed upon the traditional closeness by a volatile US administration, scrutiny of the NATO alliance, and by divergent views on the Iran JCPOA deal. published 2017, avg rating 4.07 — 6,859 ratings — Best books of 2019: genre by genre; Bernardine Evaristo, Lee Child and more pick the best books of 2019 Topics cover diplomatic and foreign affairs, military developments, international relations, terrorism, armed conflict, espionage and the broader elements of statecraft. Davies and Gustafson have put together an incredibly well-researched tour of those intelligence agencies that are seldom examined, particularly in the Western, Anglophile world. A history of American antimonopoly, the case against Big Tech, and how Europe got better than the US at free markets: here are (in no particular order) some of the best books published during the past year. Major world events will continue to develop, lines will be redrawn across maps, and key international powers will find themselves increasingly challenged by emerging rivals and the revision of established orders. Take a peek at our must-have reads in both fiction and … From the stalled and bloody war in Yemen to counter Iran-backed Houthi rebels, to their efforts to expand a presence across the Horn of Africa while building up their own military capabilities, the wealthy Gulf States appear to be scrambling to cement their own power in their near abroad. Encyclopedia Geopolitica readers have access to a 30-day free trial for Kindle Unlimited, allowing them to sample over 1 million ebooks and thousands of audiobooks. Reading an inspiring book every day will help keep you in optimal condition and help you interpret yourself and the world more positively. This thread is archived. published 2008, avg rating 4.16 — The result is a clear-eyed, dispassionate look at how and why terrorism has been a persistent phenomenon throughout history. Olson crafted 50 scenarios based on common issues that case officers often come across in the field. This book gives an insider’s point of view to how one of the 21st Century’s rising powers made key decisions that will have long-term effects for India, and perhaps the world. Useful links. 0 people liked it, Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics (Hardcover), The Revenge Of Geography: What the Map Tells Us About Coming Conflicts and the Battle Against Fate (Hardcover), The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century (Hardcover), The Accidental Superpower: The Next Generation of American Preeminence and the Coming Global Disorder (Hardcover), The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and its Geostrategic Imperatives (Paperback), The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order (Paperback), Asia's Cauldron: The South China Sea and the End of a Stable Pacific (Hardcover), Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power (Hardcover), Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty (Hardcover), Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’s Trap? 2,859 ratings — Some revisit conflicts that have shaped the modern world, as … The people of Portugal witnessed one the country’s biggest political transformations in the April Revolution of 1974. Special mention: Drone warfare: Concepts and controversies (Dr James Rogers and Professor Caroline Kennedy-Pipe). (BILLION PHOTOS/Shutterstock) Editor's Note. Whilst the region lacks the cultural-historical significance of the Levant for the Islamic State movement, the establishment of regional wilayats will likely continue to place strain on local counter-extremism efforts. published 2005, avg rating 3.77 — Thesiger does them a service with his observations. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. My library list of suggestions for those seeking to better understand the coming year’s geopolitical movements in their focus areas, which includes academic textbooks, historical studies and insights from some of the world’s greatest geopolitical minds. Choices, Inside the Making of India’s foreign Policy (Shivshankar Menon). Little understood, the conflict has wide-reaching influence over much of the continent, and remains one of the world’s most pressing humanitarian crises. The 51 Best Books of 2019 Keeping up with all of the latest must-read books can quickly turn into an overwhelming endeavor -- leave the sorting of what's good and what's bad to us. 2,285 ratings — Our 20 Favorite LGBTQ Books of 2019. The Marsh Arabs wetland context is all but gone now thanks to the Saddam Baathist era, but it serves as a warning from history of the fragility of a people who had existed untroubled for 5000 years and who were suddenly swept away by “progress”. Becoming Michelle Obama. The largest section of the book is dedicated to case studies or ‘scenarios’ as Olson frames them. The 13 Best Books of 2018. Bangladesh will also have general elections in the last few weeks of 2018, while Sri Lanka might also experience snap elections due to an unfolding constitutional crisis. Mansell and Openshaw take a look at contemporary events through the lens of international law, providing insights into how the law regulates actions between countries and acts as an obstacle to conflict. Whether your favorite genre is thrillers, romance, or biographies, we've compiled the best books that need to be on your reading list this October. This award-winning philosophical analysis of drone warfare may be small in stature, but it packs a punch. save. What Popcorn … Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. In Latin America specifically, this tension manifests itself most glaringly with the migrant crisis of an imploding Venezuela. 6,189 ratings — 2.) Highly conservative forms of Islam are widespread across the region, and local-issue insurgencies often intertwine themselves with the ideology of jihad. With the departure of the ever-resistant UK, Brussels is likely to continue towards building a more integrated European Army in 2019. published 1996, avg rating 3.96 — Once untouchable, Xi Jinping’s cult of personality-like popularity has also taken several small blows in 2018 leading many to question the extent of his acceptance across China. published 1994, avg rating 4.03 — 1 person liked it, 1 chapters — The following are recommended for understanding the key players in the White House: In addition to the turbulent administration, increasingly stressed internal divisions have gripped America in 2018, and will almost certainly continue to deepen in the coming year. Despite this, stories of the horrors of daily life inside the “Hermit Kingdom” continue to emerge. avg rating 4.20 — Taking a thematic approach which incorporates ethnic conflicts, religious extremism and ancient aristocracies getting fat off of bewildering levels of corruption, Vatikiotis shows how the social and political problems of Southeast Asia are deeply rooted in the region’s history.