Offers an account of the rivalry between Great Britain and Germany in the period leading to the First World War. This book concerns itself with a comparison of the two societies, their political cultures, economies, party politics, courts, the role of the press and pressure groups, and other factors.

Looks at the different ways in which society prepares itself for the arrival of the 21st century. Digesting and synthesizing developments in population growth, environmental change, biotechnology, robotics and global financial markets, this book looks at a possible future.

This study looks at the past 500 years to demonstrate that nations which became great powers declined as their growth rate slowed and their spending on defence continued to increase. The author explains how this can be eased or worsened by clever or short-sighted policy decisions.

A work that examines the reasons for Britain's rise and fall as a dominant sea power, from the Tudors. Challenging the traditional view that the British are natural 'sons of the waves', it suggests instead that the country's fortunes as a significant maritime force have always been bound up with its economic growth.