Marcus Aurelius, one of the greatest Roman emperors, is remembered less for his military exploits than for his private reflections. His Meditations, as they became known, have been a major influence on Western thought and behaviour down through the centuries, proving that the pen is mightier than the sword. Seeking an alternative to faith-based religion, Alan Stedall came across the book and found rational answers to questions about the meaning and purpose of life that had been troubling him. Here too were answers to his concern that in the absence of moral beliefs based on religion, we risk creating a …

This historical analysis of the political and religious relationship of Britain and Spain, from 12th-century dynastic alliances to the Spanish support of the English-American invasion of Iraq, asserts that there have been many significant links between the two countries over the past 800 years. While England and Spain were rivals in the New World, British and Spanish troops fought side by side for causes of mutual concern during the Peninsular War, Spanish Civil War, and World War II. This bittersweet relationship has been fundamental to continental politics and the position of each country in the international realm.

This book offers a radical revision of modern economic theory. Its starting point is the existing body of both micro and macro economics, as developed in such textbooks as Economics by Begg, Fischer and Dornbusch and Positive Economics by Lipsey and Chrystal. Following a similar framework to these books, it adjusts the whole range of theory by introducing some new concepts and other earlier ones that have been much neglected in the economic thought of the past century. These are related especially to the fundamental part played by land, in it proper sense of all natural resources available on the …

Having correctly forecast the timing of the global crisis, the author now extends that same analysis to the future of the West, to evaluate fears from distinguished commentators who claim that European civilisation is in danger of being eclipsed. He concludes that the West is at a dangerous tipping point, and provides empirical and theoretical evidence to warrant such an alarming conclusion. But he also explains why it is not too late to prevent the looming social catastrophe. Attributing the present crisis to a social process of cheating, he develops a synthesis of the social and natural sciences to show …

This book offers the first comprehensive assessment of Tony Blair's premiership and his Third Way project. It reveals the hidden flaw in the market economy that explains why politicians of all parties cannot keep their grand promises. Blair promised to reform the Welfare State, the pact between people and their governments to abolish the evils of poverty and ignorance. Despite a record three election victories in a row, the gap between rich and poor widened. The reason, the author argues, is the method government relies on to raise taxes. Contrary to intention, the tax burden on low income earners increased, …

In the two-and-a-half years since the first edition appeared, events have unfolded as predicted. In 2005, the consensus among forecasters was that the boom in house prices would cool to an annual 2 or 3 percent rise over the following years. In fact, in keeping with the winner’s curse phase of the cycle described by the author, prices rose by more than 10 percent per annum in Britain. Harrison’s first book, The Power in the Land, predicted the early 1990s recession. Boom Bust, warned that investing in property is not always a safe bet, because the market is subject to …

Fred Harrison draws on global-wide case studies to show how the violent birth of nation-states, whether the result of territorial conquests or colonialism, splits the population into two classes, victors and vanquished. This division is perpetuated and legitimated through the system of land tenure. The pathological consequences – as diverse as failed states, organised crime (mafia), religious fundamentalism and the re-emergence of piracy – are the result of the violent uprooting of the original inhabitants from their homelands. Understanding the territorial basis of political power and wealth is the pre-requisite, Fred Harrison argues, for making sense of issues as diverse …

After several decades of historical revisionism, Winston Churchill remains one of the most controversial figures in modern history. Critics allege he was a diehard imperialist and warmonger, a bitter opponent of the working classes and a maverick opportunist with an insatiable appetite for power. Despite his record as "the man who won the war," he is often accused of being a war criminal. This book sets out to correct the historical record in a stimulating collection of essays. Arranged in chronological order to show his life in the context of 20th century world history, these essays are both detailed and …

The country is in crisis. Unrest and inner city tensions feed on unemployment, and as the government struggles to contain the soaring debt, no one listens. Most are tired of PR-savvy words and tired of the blame game that poses as debate. Divisions in the Cabinet force the premier’s resignation. Because circumstances are too dire to afford the luxury of an election, the queen calls a meeting of the three main party leaders. Some days efore, the leader of the opposition received a letter that intrigued him. The writer had held little hope of making contact, but gave it one …

Arguing that an efficient economic system can be compatible with a fair share for all, this novel centers on a United States president who changes his mind about his policies. A deliberate parable about today’s political wars, the novel illustrates the reforms posed by a real 19th-century figure, the American economist Henry George. Accordingly, this fictional reelection campaign provides a convenient stage for speeches and debates when the incumbent president goes missing, only to return with a platform for social justice that enrages those with vested interests and confounds his party operatives.

Beings from a distant planet impact the political, economic, and spiritual life of both Britain and the world in this tale that uses a touch of science fiction to explore human potential. Dealing with a suffering economy and rising inflation, the prime minister is a year into office and faces nothing but frustration. Then, visitors with impressive technological skills and an astonishingly tranquil presence arrive claiming to be from a distant world. This perceptive narrative lifts current political debate out of its rut when these aliens explain that, thanks in part to the wise Teachers of Earth, they have established …

This historical novel tells of three families, British, Hungarian and Russian, whose lives are linked for 50 years during and after the Cold War. Their experiences reflect the danger, bravery, heartbreak, joy, and sorrow of those days when Europe was divided by the Iron Curtain. Four 11-year-olds spend an idyllic seaside holiday in England in August 1956, just before the Suez crisis and the Hungarian Uprising intensify the Cold War. John Symons skillfully portrays how world events, including the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, the Solidarity movement in Poland in the early 1980s, the end of Communism in Eastern …