Book excerpt: This authoritative dictionary provides informative and analytical entries on the most important people, organizations, events, movements, and ideas that have shaped the world we live in. Covering the period from 1900 to the present day, this fully revised and updated new edition presents a global perspective on recent history, with a wide range of new entries from Tony Abbott, the European migration crisis and ISIL to Narendra Modi, Hassan Rouhani, and the Lisbon Treaty. All existing entries have been brought up to date. Handy tables include lists of office-holders for countries and organizations and winners of the Nobel Peace Prize. This accessible dictionary will be revised on a regular basis following the publication of this edition, as will A Guide to Countries of the World, ensuring that coverage of current affairs is up to date. This dictionary is a reliable resource for students of history, politics, and international relations as well as for journalists, policy-makers, and general readers interested in the modern world.