To understand contemporary Iraq and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, no book provides a surer guide or more unsettling experience, written as it was for another war, another army, and another time. Gertrude Bell for a fleeting moment was the optimistic progenitor of the Iraq that today is becoming unglued.

Detailing two years in the life of a British political officer charged with establishing and maintaining British rule in the Kurdish district of Arbil in Iraq, this personal account provides a thorough discussion of Kurdish society from the viewpoint of Captain William Rupert Hay.

Professor Robert Langdon, in Dan Brown's thriller, tells his Harvard class, "My friends, it is impossible to overstate the influence of Dante Alighieri's work. Throughout all of history, with the sole exception perhaps of Holy Scripture, no single work of writing, art, music, or literature has inspired more tributes, imitations, variations and annotations than The Divine Comedy. Edmund Gardner was one of the great Dante scholars of his time and an astute guide to the background to Dan Brown's adventures with Dante.

Three major collections of Unitarian and Nonconformist literature in Britain are at Luther King House in Manchester, Harris Manchester College in Oxford University, and the Dr. Williams Library in London. This book gives important information about the Unitarian antecedents of the Luther King library, which is used by five colleges: Northern Baptist, Northern College (United Reformed and Congregational), Hartley Victoria College, (Methodist) Unitarian College Manchester, and Luther King House Open College. In turn, the library and Luther King House cooperate with the University of Manchester,...

Admiral T.T. Jeans was a decorated British Naval officer with considerable experience in the Middle East. He wrote this fast-moving novel based on his experiences and those of his compatriots. The plot turns on efforts of Iran to stir trouble by providing arms to Middle Easter insurgents. While published in 1927, it could as well have been written about arms smuggling in the 21st century, which makes policing the waters of the Gulf a present priority.

At the end of the Cold War, a renewed interest in civil society emerged. Today, civil society, trust, democratization, social capital, and volunteerism are a primary focus among the social sciences. The end of the Cold War meant such issues in the social sciences, neglected during many years of military confrontation, came back into prominence. Voluntary groups are being given large roles, and the state is being challenged by them.

The search is on for ways to encourage democracy. Free trade and globalization are part of the equation, but much attention is being focused on the role...

At the end of the Cold War, a renewed interest in civil society emerged. Today, civil society, trust, democratization, social capital, and volunteerism are a primary focus among the social sciences. The end of the Cold War meant such issues in the social sciences, neglected during many years of military confrontation, came back into prominence. Voluntary groups are being given large roles, and the state is being challenged by them.

The search is on for ways to encourage democracy. Free trade and globalization are part of the equation, but much attention is being focused on the role...

Higher education plays a significant role in shaping our cultural identity. Yet, in this ever-changing world, it's important to consider what adjustments American universities are making-or need to make-to meet the dynamic societal requirements.

Change is often challenging for large institutions, and academia is no different. The contributors to this issue of The Annals take a hard look at current changes in higher education and propose further modification for the American university in the coming decades.

The issue opens with a blueprint for change that looks at the...

Higher education plays a significant role in shaping our cultural identity. Yet, in this ever-changing world, it's important to consider what adjustments American universities are making-or need to make-to meet the dynamic societal requirements.

Change is often challenging for large institutions, and academia is no different. The contributors to this issue of The Annals take a hard look at current changes in higher education and propose further modification for the American university in the coming decades.

The issue opens with a blueprint for change that looks at the...