Based on a detailed study of 35 cases in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and post-communist Eurasia, this book explores the fate of competitive authoritarian regimes between 1990 and 2008. It finds that where social, economic, and technocratic ties to the West were extensive, as in Eastern Europe and the Americas, the external cost of abuse led incumbents to cede power rather than crack down, which led to democratization. Where ties to the West were limited, external democratizing pressure was w...

Bundu was an anomaly among the precolonial Muslim states of West Africa. Founded during the jihads which swept the savannah in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, it developed a pragmatic policy, unique in the midst of fundamentalist, theocratic Muslim states. Located in the Upper Senegal and with access to the Upper Gambia, Bundu played a critical role in regional commerce and production and reacted quickly to the stimulus of European trade.

Drawing upon a wide range of sources both ora...

This new edition of one of the most widely used course books on Islamic civilizations around the world has been substantially revised to incorporate the new scholarship and insights of the last twenty-five years. Ira Lapidus' history explores the beginnings and transformations of Islamic civilizations in the Middle East and details Islam's worldwide diffusion. The history is divided into four parts.

Part I is a comprehensive account of pre-Islamic late antiquity; the beginnings of Islam; the ...

A Reference Grammar of Modern Standard Arabic is a comprehensive handbook on the structure of Arabic. Keeping technical terminology to a minimum, it provides a detailed yet accessible overview of Modern Standard Arabic in which the essential aspects of its phonology, morphology and syntax can be readily looked up and understood. Accompanied by extensive carefully-chosen examples, it will prove invaluable as a practical guide for supporting students' textbooks, classroom work or self-study, an...

Students new to the study of EU law can find knowing what questions to ask to be as much of a challenge as answering them. This book clearly sets the scene: it explores the history and institutions of the EU, examines the interplay of its main bodies in its legislative process and illustrates the role played by the EU Courts and the importance of fundamental rights. The student is also introduced to the key principles of the internal market, in particular the free movement of goods and the fr...

Six full practice tests with tips and training for the 2015 revised Cambridge English: First (FCE). First Trainer Second edition offers six practice tests for the revised Cambridge English: First (FCE) exam combined with easy-to-follow guidance and exam tips. The first two tests are fully guided with advice on how to tackle each paper.

Extra practice activities, informed by the Cambridge Learner Corpus, a bank of real candidates' exam papers, focus on areas where students typically need the m...

Professional English in Use Engineering presents and practises over 1000 words and phrases to help you function in English in your everyday working life. Using the highly successful format of presentation on the left hand page and practice on the right hand page, Professional English in Use Engineering presents essential vocabulary in context to help you use the words more easily. Easy to use, attractively designed in four colours throughout and and fully comprehensive, this book will be inva...

This accessible guide provides clear, practical explanations of key research methods in business studies, presenting a step-by-step approach to data collection, analysis and problem solving. Readers will learn how to formulate a research question, choose an appropriate research method, argue and motivate, collect and analyse data, and present findings in a logical and convincing manner. The authors evaluate various qualitative and quantitative methods and their consequences, guiding readers t...

A three-level (B1+ to C1) integrated skills course for higher education students at university or on foundation courses. The B2 Upper Intermediate Student's Book gives students further practice in academic study skills. Students analyse characteristics of written and spoken academic texts, develop awareness of academic culture and learn to avoid plagiarism.

From essay organisation, taking notes, group discussion to writing references and paraphrasing texts, the students are presented with a w...

The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for upper-intermediate level (B2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities.

Quickly expand your vocabulary with over 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises. Be confident about what you are learning, thanks to Cambridge research into how English is really spoken and written, and get better at studying by yourself, with units on learning vocabular...