ShelfLife@Texas

With the presidential debates complete and the upcoming election only a day away, many voters still remain uncertain about whom to vote for.

ShelfLife@Texas’ political round-up offers shrewd governmental, political and historical insight on the current affairs, both domestic and international, that these candidates can expect to face as President of the United States of America. Topics range from presidential leadership in divisive times to the controversial topic of nation building to the development of a “presidential accountability system.”

“Liberty’s Surest Guardian:…

Jason Brownlee, associate professor in the Departments of Government and Middle Eastern Studies at The University of Texas at Austin, has received a $109,484 grant to examine peace-building efforts in Egypt.

The funding, provided by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), will enable Brownlee to determine whether the rise in Egypt’s anti-Coptic violence comes from underlying social tensions or from lack of government interventions.

Nationally known for his expertise in authoritarian rule in the Middle East, Brownlee studies democratization and U.S. foreign policy.…

In his latest book, “Jewish Terrorism in Israel,” author Ami Pedahzur tells a story which has never been told and in doing so helps alleviate the fear of the unknown. He and co-author Arie Perlinger present a historical overview of political violence in Jewish history, post-1967 terrorist groups, and Jewish terrorism in the 1990’s, including the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, former prime minister of Israel and Noble Peace Prize winner. They also provide analysis of more recent times and the hilltop youth who…

University of Texas at Austin faculty and alumni authors will share their expertise on topics ranging from the fate of Savannah during the Civil War, to mapping a career path, to the culture of Texas barbecue at the 2009 Texas Book Festival Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the Texas Capitol and surrounding areas.

More than 200 writers will showcase their books, including a host of authors from our university. Some of the presenters include:

Author: Jeffrey Abramson, professor of law and government
Book: “Minerva’s Owl:…

Four years ago, Associate Professor of Government Ami Pedahzur investigated the use of human bombs in terrorist attacks around the world in the 2005 book “Suicide Terrorism” (Polity).

Now, after a decade of studying terrorism, he turns his attention to Israel’s battle in “The Israeli Secret Services and the Struggle Against Terrorism” (Columbia University Press, 2009).

In the book, Pedahzur argues that Israel’s counterrorism policy has not been successsful. To learn why, read the Austin American-Statesman’s interview with Pedahzur in the Jan. 18…

UT alumnus David Weiden (Ph.D., Government, ‘07) and co-author Artemus Ward, assistant professor of political science at Northern Illinois University, offer a peek inside the Supreme Court’s closed chambers in “Sorcerers’ Apprentices: 100 Years of Law Clerks at the United States Supreme Court” (New York University Press, 2006).

Filled with charts, graphs and quotes from law clerks and justices, the book provides a nuanced overview of the inner workings of our nation’s highest court, focusing on how law clerks significantly influence…

As our nation’s new President-Elect Barack Obama prepares to make his transition to the White House, millions of Americans wait in anticipation to see how he will turn the weakening economy around and make good on his promise for “a new dawn of American leadership.”

Three books by professors from the College of Liberal Arts, offer keen insight into the challenges our new president will face. From scandals in the White House to party polarization to the issue of race…

Election Day is finally here! It’s been a long and grueling campaign season, but if you’re still hungry for insight about the important issues facing the nation, check out these three books by faculty members from the Department of Government.

From voter mythology to gender and religion, these books address the gamut of contentious issues from the 2008 presidential election.

“Unconventional Wisdom: Facts and Myths About American Voters” (Oxford University Press, 2008), by Karen Kaufmann, John Petrocik and Daron Shaw.

Frustrated by…