New Book Solicitation: Foreign Policy Edition

In keeping with my recent movement towards Foreign Policy readings… I’m looking for a new book to read.

Specifically, I’m looking for a book that is les than 600 pages, more than 100 pages, written from an angle that would not be described as neoconservative or right-wing, and in the category of non fiction covering one of these 5 topics:

China:  Especially Mao through Now.  (Hey, that Rhymes!)  

South American history and politics from Simon Bolivar through the early 1990s (or even up to the present day)

I’ve always been facinated by Bolivar, but don’t know nearly enough about him.  I have enough knowledge to discuss the political histories of Columbia, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile pretty well– but would like a better deeper knowledge that ties various social movements and time periods together.  For instance, while reading about the tragic death of Mario Benedetti yesterday,   I realized I don’t know hardly anything about Uruguay or the dictatorship in the 70s.  

Finally, I would prefer a left-leaning book on the topic, though maybe one a little less left-leaning than the one Chavez gave to Obama.  

Recent political history of Africa, especially central, southern, and coastal Africa (i.e. not the northern more Arab parts– Egypt, Sudan, etc)

My African history is much more spotty than my South American history, so I’ve got a lot more to learn.  However, I’m more likely to visit a South or Central American country in the next decade… probably one of the reasons why I’ve read more about those areas than I have about Africa.  

Nonetheless, I want very much to plug this gap in my world knowledge.  If the right book is out there, I would really like to read it.  

I was at a house party for our neighbor’s across the street on Friday, and Dee (Rebecca’s husband) is from Senegal, and he had a bunch of friends that are also French-African expats.  Sitting and talking with them I felt especially conspicuous in my spotty knowledge of any African History outside of the arab north.  

The Soviet Union:  Especially the industrialization following Stalin’s rise, through the disintegration of the USSR.  

 I know the outline of this incredibly important period of Russian history, but not really the details.  

A book that looks at how life changed and evolved for the average Russian, and what the internal communist politics were from WWII – 1980s would be really interesting to me.  

Also, Stalin himself was an interesting figure I’d like to learn more about.  He was good looking as a young guy, I’ll give him that.  He and I also share the same 20-something facial hair style.  I guess of all the 20th century dictators, I’d rather share facial hair with Stalin in his 20s to Stalin in his 50s or Hitler at any point.  

India:  Especially the separation of India and Pakistan, and India’s political dynamics from M. Gandhi’s death until present day.  

Considering India is the worlds largest Democracy, and considering I’ve read more total words written by and about Gandhi than pretty much any other historical figure besides Jesus… 

 I know relatively little about Indian politics over the last 50 years.  If there’s a book that could get me up to date, that would be great (hopefully a recent book, since politics there are pretty fluid).  

And just to drive the point home:  Indian elections in the last few days have been fascinating to watch, and the landslide victory by the Congress party has deep historical roots.