The mid-twentieth century saw the end of colonial empires, a global phenomenon that brought about profound changes and created enormous problems. Decolonization played a major part in shaping the contemporary world order and the domestic development of newly emerging states in the 'Third World'. In Decolonization, Raymond Betts considers this process and its outcomes. Drawing on numerous examples, including those of Ghana, India, Rwanda and Hong Kong, the author examines: the effects of two World Wars on the colonial empire the expectations and problems created by independence Major demographic shifts accompanying the end of empire Cultural experiences, literary movements and the search for ideology of the dying empire and newly independent nations The second edition brings the discussion up to date and looks at contemporary concerns such as the growth of Islamic Fundamentalism, 9/11, globalization and the AIDS pandemic.

This lively and informative survey provides a thematic global history of popular culture focusing on the period since the end of the Second World War."

A History of Popular Culture" explores the rapid diffusion and 'hybridization' of popular culture as the result of three conditions of the world since the end of World War Two: instantaneous communications, widespread consumption in a market-based economy and the visualization of reality. Betts considers the dominance of American entertainment media and habits of consumption, assessing adaptation and negative reactions to this influence.

The author surveys a wide range of topics, including:

• the emergence and conditions of modern popular culture
• the effects of global conflict
• the phenomenon and effects of urbanization
• the changing demography of the political arena and the work place
• the development of contemporary music culture
• film, television and visual experience
• the growth of sport as a commercial enterprise.

Now updated, by Lyz Bly, to include major developments such as blogs and social networks, YouTube.com, and enhanced technologies such as the iPhone, iPod, and iPad as well as the way in which the internet has reshaped the ways we consume media. The book provides an engaging introduction to this pervasive and ever-changing subject.

The mid-20th century saw the end of colonial empires, a global phenomenon that brought about profound changes and created enormous problems. Decolonization played a major part in shaping the contemporary world order and the domestic development of newly emerging states in the "third world".;In "Decolonization", Raymond Betts considers this process and its outcomes. Drawing on numerous examples, including those of Ghana, India, Rwanda and Hong Kong, the author examines: the effects of two world wars on the colonial empire; the expectations and problems created by independence; major demographic shifts accompanying the end of empire; and cultural experiences, literary movements and the search for ideology of the dying empire and newly independent nations.;The second edition looks at contemporary concerns such as the growth of Islamic fundamentalism, 9/11, globalization and the AIDS pandemic.

This lively and informative survey provides a thematic global history of popular culture focusing on the period since the end of the Second World War."

A History of Popular Culture" explores the rapid diffusion and 'hybridization' of popular culture as the result of three conditions of the world since the end of World War Two: instantaneous communications, widespread consumption in a market-based economy and the visualization of reality. Betts considers the dominance of American entertainment media and habits of consumption, assessing adaptation and negative reactions to this influence.

The author surveys a wide range of topics, including:

• the emergence and conditions of modern popular culture
• the effects of global conflict
• the phenomenon and effects of urbanization
• the changing demography of the political arena and the work place
• the development of contemporary music culture
• film, television and visual experience
• the growth of sport as a commercial enterprise.

Now updated, by Lyz Bly, to include major developments such as blogs and social networks, YouTube.com, and enhanced technologies such as the iPhone, iPod, and iPad as well as the way in which the internet has reshaped the ways we consume media. The book provides an engaging introduction to this pervasive and ever-changing subject.

Until the close of the nineteenth century, French colonial theory was based on the idea of assimilation, which gave France the responsibility for "civilizing" its colonies by absorbing them administratively and culturally. By the turn of the twentieth century, this idea had given way to the theory of association, which held that France's new empire could be better served by a more flexible policy in which the colonized become partners with France in the colonial project. Raymond F. Betts examines the pivotal shift in colonial theory within the "metropole," the debate that it generated, and its intellectual origins. A landmark book in the field of French colonial theory, "Assimilation and Association in French Colonial Theory, 1890-1914," has served as the central point of reference for every major colonial historian during the four decades since its original publication in 1961. Available in paperback for the first time, with a new preface by the author, this edition will interest all students of colonialism and introduce many younger scholars to what remains the best and most original book in the field.

Until the close of the nineteenth century, French colonial theory was based on the idea of assimilation, which gave France the responsibility for "civilizing" its colonies by absorbing them administratively and culturally. By the turn of the twentieth century, this idea had given way to the theory of association, which held that France's new empire could be better served by a more flexible policy in which the colonized become partners with France in the colonial project. Raymond F. Betts examines the pivotal shift in colonial theory within the "metropole", the debate that it generated, and its intellectual origins. A landmark book in the field of French colonial theory, "Assimilation and Association in French Colonial Theory, 1890-1914", has served as the central point of reference for every major colonial historian during the four decades since its original publication in 1961. Available in paperback for the first time, with a new preface by the author, this edition will interest all students of colonialism and introduce many younger scholars to what remains the best and most original book in the field.