From Augustus to Stalin... Reading the Light and Shadow of Power and the World Order [fn Book Briefing]

[Financial News] From the rulers of ancient Rome to modern dictators and the U.S.-China rivalry for hegemony, a series of general interest books on politics and thought that examines leaders' choices and changes in the world order is coming to readers.
According to 21st Century Books on the 9th, the 'Great Harmony' series, introduced last year, consists of a total of 17 volumes, including Robert Service's 'Stalin' published on this day. With biographies of historical figures and books on international politics and geopolitics as its two main pillars, the series explores the leadership that guides nations and organizations.
The series is marketed as "Political and Ideological Education for Leaders." It focuses on the role of politics in mediating diverse interests and values. While biographies follow the individual judgments of leaders, geopolitical works examine the international order and structural conditions surrounding those choices. The structure allows readers to interpret the same issues of power from the distinct perspectives of individuals and systems.
The field of biographies traces the exercise of power by figures who led empires and nations. Representative works include Adrian Goldsworthy's *Augustus* and Jonathan Steinberg's *Bismarck*. *Alexander the Great* and *Henry V* also cover the processes of conquest and rule.
'Thomas Jefferson' and 'Benjamin Franklin,' which cover the founding of the United States, focus on the choices between ideals and reality, as well as diplomacy and negotiation. 'Fidel & Che' demonstrates how conviction and power intertwine through the relationship between the two revolutionaries.
The newly published *Stalin* is a biography based on materials from Russian archives released after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and interviews with people close to him. Author Robert Service utilizes letters, diaries, and official documents to reconstruct the process by which the revolutionary rose to the pinnacle of power. He also examines the political acumen and the reality of the Reign of Terror that were revealed through the Great Purge of the 1930s and World War II.
In the field of international politics and geopolitics, '21st Century Geopolitics' re-examines the perception of the Western-centric world order through 5,000 years of civilizational history. 'Eurasian Geopolitics' analyzes the system wars that have taken place in Eurasia over the past 100 years, and Odd Arne Westad's 'The Coming Storm' warns of the risk of a recurrence of war between great powers.
Decision-making amidst crises is also a major theme. 'Wrong Strategies' examines, using psychology and military theories, the reasons why leaders and strategists fall into misjudgment. 'White House Situation Room' and 'War and the President' shed light on the judgments of leaders facing national security crises and war.
It also examines the connection between the economy and diplomacy. 'How Globalization Failed' analyzes the cracks in free trade and the rise of populism, while 'The Doom Loop' analyzes the vicious cycle in which the economy, politics, and geopolitics are intertwined. 'Madman Strategy' examines changes in alliances and the international order through Trump's diplomacy.
The publisher plans to release biographies of Julius Caesar and Peter the Great, as well as a double biography of Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle, from the fourth quarter of this year to the first half of next year. In addition, it is preparing books covering artificial intelligence (AI), the future of nation-states, the Chinese market, and conflicts between great powers.
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