Tim Beal

Proxy wars, it seems, are more openly practiced than ever-and yet one of the worst of these was suppressed and "forgotten" even in its own time. At the height of the McCarthy era and the inception of the Cold War, the great journalist I. F. Stone released The Hidden History of the Korean War, a courageous work of investigative journalism that demolished the official story of America's so-called "forgotten war." As the war spiraled to its conclusion, Stone closely analyzed openly available U. S. intelligence narratives on the war's official start, and the actions of key players like John Foster Dulles, General Douglas MacArthur, and Chiang Kai-shek. The result of his investigations was a controversial book that raised questions about the origin of the war, made a case that the U. S. government had manipulated the United Nations, and gave evidence that the U. S. military and South Korean oligarchy dragged out the war by sabotaging peace talks. With a new introduction by Tim Beal and Greg Elich, 70 years after its initial publication The Hidden History of the Korean War remains a powerful dissemination of the 'hidden history' behind the dominant historical narrative, as relevant as ever.

The revival of a classic work of journalism which exposes the gap between the official story and reality Proxy wars, it seems, are more openly practiced than ever-and yet one of the worst of these was suppressed and "forgotten" even in its own time. At the height of the McCarthy era and the inception of the Cold War, the great journalist I. F. Stone released The Hidden History of the Korean War, a courageous work of investigative journalism that demolished the official story of America's so-called "forgotten war." As the war spiraled to its conclusion, Stone closely analyzed openly available U. S. intelligence narratives on the war's official start, and the actions of key players like John Foster Dulles, General Douglas MacArthur, and Chiang Kai-shek. The result of his investigations was a controversial book that raised questions about the origin of the war, made a case that the U. S. government had manipulated the United Nations, and gave evidence that the U. S. military and South Korean oligarchy dragged out the war by sabotaging peace talks. With a new introduction by Tim Beal and Greg Elich, 70 years after its initial publication The Hidden History of the Korean War remains a powerful dissemination of the 'hidden history' behind the dominant historical narrative, as relevant as ever.

The book examines the expansion of investment and trade between China and New Zealand, and its changing composition within the political framework, especially the 2008 Free Trade Agreement. Particular attention is paid to China’s volatile agrifood market, where New Zealand dairy products play an important role for both countries. The New Zealand-China economic relationship – asymmetrical and complementary, but with increasing competition from domestic production – is a case study of the complexities of globalization and the interplay of economic imperatives, political pressures and cultural factors. China is now New Zealand’s main economic partner and a major source of migrants, tourists and students. This proposed study on how New Zealand and China manage their grave dissimilarities and disparities in growing, ever close economic ties will be of interest to academics, policy analysts, economic/trade decision makers, and business practitioners.

The book examines the expansion of investment and trade between China and New Zealand, and its changing composition within the political framework, especially the 2008 Free Trade Agreement. Particular attention is paid to China’s volatile agrifood market, where New Zealand dairy products play an important role for both countries. The New Zealand-China economic relationship – asymmetrical and complementary, but with increasing competition from domestic production – is a case study of the complexities of globalization and the interplay of economic imperatives, political pressures and cultural factors. China is now New Zealand’s main economic partner and a major source of migrants, tourists and students. This proposed study on how New Zealand and China manage their grave dissimilarities and disparities in growing, ever close economic ties will be of interest to academics, policy analysts, economic/trade decision makers, and business practitioners.

The South Korean warship Cheonan was sunk in mysterious circumstances on 26 March 2010. The remarkable events that followed are analysed by Tim Beal and woven into a larger study of the increasingly volatile relations between North and South Korea and US concern about the rise of China. South Korea's stance towards the North has hardened significantly since the new conservative government came to power. Beal argues that the South moved quickly to use the sinking of the Cheonan to put international pressure on the North, even before the cause of the sinking had been established. The US followed suit by attempting to pressurise China into condemning North Korea. The media reports at the time presented an open and shut case of unprovoked North Korean aggression, but the evidence points towards the accidental triggering of a South Korean mine as the cause and South Korean fabrication to incriminate the North. With the South bent on forcing the fall of the North's regime with US help and China unlikely to stand idly by, this book offers an essential guide to the key factors behind the crisis and possible solutions.

This book seeks to demystify North Korea by cutting through the propaganda to unearth the complex and contradictory realities of this unique country. The North is not a 'workers' paradise' but neither is it a threat to its neighbours and the world. The once vigorous economy was devastated by the collapse of the Soviet Union and now its main foreign policy objective, and the key to its economic rehabilitation, is normalisation of relations with the United States. But not normalisation at the expense of independence. Tim Beal reveals a country overburdened by military spending that sees itself under constant threat. However, he also reveals how North Korea has opened to the world in recent years, establishing diplomatic relations with the West and trying to break free of foreign aid. Exploring a broad range of subjects including the historical and political framework of North Korea, the development of the nuclear crisis, human rights issues, drug trading, as well as its shifting relationship with South Korea, this is an ideal book for anyone who wants a thorough introduction to the remarkable challenges this country faces.

This book seeks to demystify North Korea by cutting through the propaganda to unearth the complex and contradictory realities of this unique country. The North is not a 'workers' paradise' but neither is it a threat to its neighbours and the world. The once vigorous economy was devastated by the collapse of the Soviet Union and now its main foreign policy objective, and the key to its economic rehabilitation, is normalisation of relations with the United States. But not normalisation at the expense of independence. Tim Beal reveals a country overburdened by military spending that sees itself under constant threat. However, he also reveals how North Korea has opened to the world in recent years, establishing diplomatic relations with the West and trying to break free of foreign aid. Exploring a broad range of subjects including the historical and political framework of North Korea, the development of the nuclear crisis, human rights issues, drug trading, as well as its shifting relationship with South Korea, this is an ideal book for anyone who wants a thorough introduction to the remarkable challenges this country faces.