Saudi Arabia has been one of the most stable of the U.S. allies in the Arab Middle East and a long-time collaborator in assuring oil production at reasonable prices. Saudi Arabia is also a state in transition, presided over by an ailing monarch and an extensive family network whose princes play a prominent role in the country's political and economic life. The economy is plagued by overspending, domestic debt, and uncertain income from oil revenues. The social compact between the Al Sa'ud rulers and the ruled is showing signs of fraying as royals compete with commoners for allocation of the country's wealth and resources. A growing number of Saudis, encouraged perhaps by the regime's Islamist critics, are calling for greater participation and accountability in government. They are not calling for western-style democratic institutions, seeing these perhaps as too innovative and threatening for their fragile, conservative society. Leadership change, when it comes, is likely to produce little change in basic policies and threat perceptions. The ruling family is large, and its relationships in society are too extensive to be easily overturned. Most elites share the Al Sa'uds' prejudices: support for Islamist causes, suspicions of U.S. intentions, and reluctance to rely solely on the United States for its protection.

This book deals with the current research interests, methods, thingking and trend in Malaysian historical writing.The individual essays focus not only on new historical sources and methodologies, but also on debates between different schools of Malaysian histrorians on conceptual issues and on ways to reconstruct the Malaysian past. For a long time the primary object of Malaysian historical studies has been the nation-state, but some of the historians in this volume now argue that local history, social history, economic history and the role of women, minorities anad marginalized groups like trishaw riders are equally important concerns within Malaysia's socially diverse and multi-ethnic society. The essays also discuss challenges Malaysian historians face from new movements like post-modernism in representing historical truth and objectivity.

Lafayette was a charming French soldier who became like a son to George Washington and rose to lead troops in Virginia during the American Revolution. But what happened to him upon his return to France? Donald Miller presents the most complete biography in English of an aristocrat who was the hero of two worldsfighting to free Englands colonies and then returning home to reject tyranny in France. Lafayette inherited massive wealth and rode with princes, but he renounced his title to champion citizens rights and offered reforms to end Louis XVIs absolute rule. His Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen proclaimed rights given to men by naturenot God. As creator of the Paris National Guard, Lafayette designed its uniform and a French flag with the colors of Paris and the United States. He led a great fete marking the French Revolutions first year in the Champ de Mars, later scene of many deaths for which he was unfairly blamed. When Lafayette returned to the United States forty-one years after its independence, he was celebrated as a hero. The ideals that made him one of historys most celebrated and intriguing figures remain just as relevant today as when he was alive.