NEW YORK, Feb. 6 2007 - Somalia, wracked by conflict for 16 years, is the subject of the latest scholarly bibliography from the Association of American University Presses. The world's spotlight turned to Somalia as government forces, backed by the Ethiopian military, regained control of the capital Mogadishu; an event followed quickly by U.S. strikes on suspected Al Qaeda sites in the country. Somalia also holds an important place in contemporary thinking about international intervention.

http://aaupnet.org/news/bfu/somalia/list.html

Books for Understanding offers a number of essential scholarly resources on Somalia's history, in particular the record of international intervention in the country's conflicts. Examples of books included on the list:

- A Modern History of the Somali: Nation and State in the Horn of Africa

by I. M. Lewis ( Ohio University Press, 2002);

- "Here is Hell": Canada's Engagement in Somalia

by Grant Dawson ( University of British Columbia Press, 2006);

- The Horn of Africa as Common Homeland

by Leenco Lata ( Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2004);

- Unraveling Somalia: Race, Class, and the Legacy of Slavery

by Catherine Besteman (University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999).

Books for Understanding is a free public service of the Association of American University Presses to help librarians, journalists, educators, and interested readers find the best books on current events. The program highlights one of the central values of university presses: to publish top research and scholarship in all fields regardless of immediate commercial potential. Often the most complete and illuminating background research and knowledge for a breaking news story is only available in scholarly books from presses committed to the public interest.

The Association of American University Presses is the world's largest organization of nonprofit scholarly publishers. AAUP is dedicated to the support of creative and effective scholarly communications. Through its programs and information resources, AAUP helps its members fulfill their common commitments to scholarship, the academy, and society. Visit http://www.aaupnet.org to learn more about the Association and its members.

CONTACT: Brenna McLaughlin, AAUP Communications, 212-989-1010 x24, bmclaughlin@aaupnet.org

BOOKS FOR UNDERSTANDING http://booksforunderstanding.org

A free public resource to identify and highlight university press books relevant to the news of the day.

SOMALIA http://aaupnet.org/news/bfu/somalia/list.html

MEXICO http://aaupnet.org/news/bfu/mexico/list.html

IRAQ http://aaupnet.org/news/bfu/iraq/list.html

Media Contact: See above.

Source: AScribe Newswire