Gary Wiener

After the U.S.S.R. formed, the United States found itself in a rivalry that has persisted for nearly a century. Readers are introduced to the complex history between the United States and Russia, which, for many years, was a conflict between democracy and communism. However, after the dissolution of the U.S.S.R., the relationship between the two countries remains strained, and readers also explore the reasons for this continued tension. Quotes from...

The insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 sent shockwaves around the world. Suddenly, the United States, for many the gold standard of democracy and stability, seemed at risk. The riot was a direct response by a mob of extremist Trump supporters contesting the results of the recent election, but in many ways it was a culmination of larger and more complicated forces. The viewpoints in this volume explore how and why this astonishing violation...

Despite the name, trigger warnings have nothing to do with gun control, and safe spaces don't necessarily mean state-of-the-art panic rooms. Instead, these terms and the phrase "microaggressions" relate to preserving and protecting one's emotional safety. In this volume, readers will learn about the increased demand for sensitivity in social settings, in literature and media, and on the Internet. They will also encounter the opposing view, that we,...

Due to factors such as income inequality and multiculturalism, liberal democracies have weakened considerably in the last quarter century. Democratic ideals have retreated in Venezuela, the Philippines, Hungary, Russia, and Poland. Many worry that they're on the decline in such bastions of democracy as western Europe and the United States, where fear and distrust of the status quo has opened the door to authoritarian leaders. Is there any hope of...

Since its inception in 2005, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement has seen numerous boycotts against Israel in an effort to encourage withdrawal from what supporters of the movement consider to be occupied territories, along with recognition of the rights of Arab-Palestinian citizens and refugees. Supporters claim that Israel is an apartheid state, but this assertion is hotly contested. Many critics of BDS claim that the movement...

Presents essays that examine women's issues in "The Joy Luck Club," discussing such topics as gender and ethnic identity, female empowerment, cultural conflict, and stereotypes about immigrant women.