Study Aids : College Guides

With a matter of weeks to prepare, Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) personnel landed on July 24, 2003, armed for conflict but equally ready to restore peace without firing a shot in anger. RAMSI’s aim was to assist the existing government in reestablishing order and rebuilding this island nation plagued by escalating militia violence, crime, and corruption. RAMSI police forces, with the much larger military component in a supporting role, were patrolling the streets alongside their Solomon Islands counterparts on the very day of arrival. This and many other early actions on the part of RAMSI leadership presented a clear and cohesive message that would characterize operations from that day forward: RAMSI had not come to take charge through the use of force, though it had the capability to do so; it had come to assist and protect. This study reviews the remarkable successes, and the few admitted shortcomings, of RAMSI operations through the lens of broader application to current and future counterinsurgency efforts. Foremost among these lessons is the need for consistency of mission and message from leadership down to the lowest echelons of an operation, ensuring that the population is appropriately and consistently informed. more...

Price: $30.00

This report assesses the economic dimensions of security in post-Soviet Central Asia and considers their implications for the role of the United States. The September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States led to the realization among policymakers that instability, failed and failing states, and economic and political underdevelopment present security concerns not just to the states that suffer directly from these problems but to the global community as a whole. In this regard, Central Asia may be at a crossroads, as demonstrated by the so-called “Tulip Revolution” in Kyrgyzstan and the unrest in Uzbekistan in 2005. However, it is unclear whether the states in the region have the institutional capacity to implement sound and lasting domestic reform and what the appropriate role is for the United States and the international community. Although some have argued that the U.S. military presence in the region could be used as a vehicle for encouraging political and economic reform, the record to date provides little grounds for optimism. In fact, Central Asia will increasingly diversify its economic and military relationships with neighbors such as Russia, China, and Iran, potentially crowding out direct U.S. influence in the region. U.S. policymakers should consider a lower-profile military presence, a sharper focus of diplomatic and economic resources on specific issues that may affect counter-terror and counter-narcotics efforts in the region, and a nuanced approach that engages alternative power centers, realizing that the principles and interests behind U.S. involvement are more enduring than any single regime is likely to be. more...

Price: $20.00

Despite the fact that two ostensible economic policy priorities in Ukraine are to liberalize trade and improve the climate for foreign direct investment (FDI), successive Ukrainian governments have found it singularly difficult to pass legislation and implement policies to address these priorities. The study’s primary objective was to analyze Ukraine’s current environment for foreign trade and FDI and to develop policy proposals that will foster Ukraine’s foreign trade and attract more FDI, especially with respect to the United States. The report describes existing barriers to trade and FDI, chief among which is corruption, and recommends a two-pronged strategy for removing the worst of these barriers: one prong focused on a few highly visible policy changes that would bring results within 100 days; the other focused on setting in motion changes in Ukrainian institutions that would reduce corruption and other impediments over a longer period. more...

Price: $23.50

Virtually every action, message, and decision of a military force shapes the opinions of an indigenous population: strategic communication, treatment of civilians at vehicle checkpoints, and the accuracy or inaccuracy of aerial bombardment. Themes of U.S. goodwill mean little if its actions convey otherwise. Consequently, a unified message in both word and deed is fundamental to success. Business marketing practices provide a useful framework for improving U.S. military efforts to shape the attitudes and behaviors of local populations in a theater of operations as well as those of a broader, international audience. Enlisting Madison Avenue extracts lessons from these business practices and adapts them to U.S. military efforts, developing a unique approach to shaping that has the potential to improve military-civilian relations, the accuracy of media coverage of operations, communication of U.S. and coalition objectives, and the reputation of U.S. forces in theater and internationally. Foremost among these lessons are the concepts of branding, customer satisfaction, and segmentation of the target audience, all of which serve to maximize the impact and improve the outcome of U.S. shaping efforts. more...

Price: $30.00

Learn more about European history - whether you are preparing. for the Advanced Placement European History Test, a college final, or even if. you simply desire to learn more about European history. The general time period. covered by this book is from the High Middle Ages, which began in approximately. AD 1000, until the modern day. Audience: Intended for everyone interested European History. Features.:.; Fully illustrated with maps, art, and photographs.; Search for the words or phrases.; Navigate from Table of Contents or read page by page.; Designed for optimal navigation on PDA, Smartphone, Tablet, and desktop devices.; Formatted to display on all electronic devices including Smartphones and Mobile Devices with a small display.; Add Bookmarks.; Text annotation and mark-up.; Access the guide anytime, anywhere - at home, on the train, in the subway.; Use your down time to prepare for an exam.; Always have the guide available for a quick reference.; Automatic synchronization between the handheld and the desktop PC. You. could read half of the book on the handheld, then finish reading on the desktop. Annotations and drawings are also synchronized. Table of Contents. A Background of European History: Thinking Historically Minded. | Fall of the Roman Empire | Barbarians Unite | Romanesque and Gothic Art |. Papal Power in the Middle Ages | Society in the Middle Ages. The Crises of the Middle Ages: Introduction | New Breeds of. Art | The Hundred Years War | The Rise of Towns and Commerce | Growth of National. Monarchies | The Black Death | Challenges to Spiritual Authority at the End. of the Middle Ages. Renaissance Europe: Introduction | Social Order and Cultural. Change | The Birth of Humanism | Arts | The Prince | Northern Renaissance vs. Southern Renaissance | The New Monarchies | The Rise of Court Life. The Age of Exploration and Discovery: Introduction | Causes. of the Age of Exploration | Early Spanish Explorers | Results of the Age of. Exploration. Challenges to more...

Price: $19.99