Authors michael roskin and james coyle have written a clear, e. And with thatthe 2011 aardvark awards for the best books on the middle east. The middle east occupies a special place in the history of the cold war. Middle east, however, politics is also the competition of identities. Substantial change has occurred in the middle east and north africa since the last edition went to press in late 2009. My middle east politics summer reading picks the washington post. This history started from the earliest human settlements, continuing through several major pre and postislamic empires through to the nationstates of the middle east today. Beginning with ancient greek and roman conceptions of the world, the book goes on to discuss european ideas about islam from its emergence in the seventh century, with particular attention to the age of european imperialism, the era of deepening american involvement in this. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. We have nearly 50 interviews discussing a vast range of books on the middle east. The middle east book by bernard lewis official publisher. Aug 04, 2014 a guide to middle east politics in 2014 from egypt to syria, palestine to iraq, the hopes of the arab spring lie in tatters.
This nowclassic book, fully updated to 2012 and still the essential work on the subject, follows the historic struggles of the middle east from napoleons campaign in egypt and syria, through the slow decline and fall of the ottoman empire, to the israelipalestinian conflict and the history of islam and its recent resurgence. In this crisis of identities, the prospects for democracy, eco. Discover the best middle east history in best sellers. From turkey through iraq and iran, to the arabian peninsula and the states of north africa, it includes uptodate definitions of political organizations, key political figures, and important developments, as well as regionspecific. Its immaculately researched, and really should be required reading for anyone interested in iran or the middle. Although it focuses primarily on the period since the demise of the ottoman empire, shortly after world war i, it includes some discussion of preottoman and ottoman histories to better clarify the background and the context in which modern middle eastern political history has taken shape. Aimed at western readers, the texts are the kind youd expect to find on a middle eastern studies course at university. Top ten books for beginners on the middle east the. Albert hourani, a history of the arab peoples, middle east, book. Hence, it is not a coincidence that every great power in history has sought to advance its interests in the region. This seventh edition of the government and politics of the middle east and north africa updates the previous edition and introduces the reader to the growing challenges now facing the region.
Since the middle east is home to some of the worlds earliest civilizations, it is difficult to choose a starting point for examining its political history, for no matter how far back the investigator searches, there still seem to be deeper layers of historical and political developments that influenced the course of later events. But as such, it is also forcibly a history of the middle east s most powerful economic and political engine of the 20th century. A guide to middle east politics in 2014 from egypt to syria, palestine to iraq, the hopes of the arab spring lie in tatters. This profoundly important book draws on hundreds of interviews to create an oral history of the syrian uprising and the unfolding catastrophe that. What are some good books to read and understand the. Geographically, the middle east can be thought of as western asia with the addition of egypt which is the nonmaghreb region of northern africa and with the exclusion of the caucasus. Christian political theology in the middle east is a religious response by christian leaders and scholars to political problems. Ten maps that explain everything about the world politics of place book 1 tim. Yergins conversational style is a good fit whether hes explaining opecs imperium on western economies or the first hints of peak oil theory. Politics in the middle east, far from being solely an issue of islamic resurgence as is often presented by western media, actually reflects a complex mixture of issues that include nationalism. A list of new middle east history books you should read in 2020, such as.
Discover the best middle eastern politics in best sellers. United states foreign policy in the middle east has its roots as early as the barbary wars in the first years of the u. We publish textbooks, research monographs, reference works and cuttingedge series across our subject areas, and reach an international readership. For the uninitiated, middle east history is longspanning and complicated. The fall of the ottoman empire and the creation of the modern middle east by david fromki. The authors of a concise history of the middle east have done a fantastic job in putting together this easy to read and follow volume. The middle east is not a term middle easterners gave themselves, but a british term borne of a colonial, european perspective. Stivachtis the middle east occupies a unique geographical and strategic position. More a history book rather than a book on contemporary mideast politics, but stephen kinzers all the shahs men is a fantastic read.
A comprehensive history from the worlds foremost authority on the middle east. The terms origins are seeped in controversy for having originally been a european imposition of geographic perspective according to european spheres of influence. In a sweeping and vivid survey, renowned historian bernard lewis charts the history of the middle east over the last 2,000 years, from the birth of christianity through the modern era, focusing on. With two separate chapters on turkey and the kurds, as well as great, indepth coverage of middle eastern history, geography, and conflictsincluding the 2003 iraq war. The history and politics of orientalism, by zachary lockman. The book traces middle east history from before the advent of islam during the medieval era, all the way to turbulent modern times. This free book is a collection of chapters from key titles from our middle eastern politics range, all written by experts in their fields on a variety of topics ranging from the arab spring to the israeliarab conflict. Jan 07, 2016 more a history book rather than a book on contemporary mideast politics, but stephen kinzers all the shahs men is a fantastic read. It looks at the politics of the region not just from the outside in but from the inside out.
Stansfield, an associate professor of middle east politics, is a prolific writer about iraq and iraqi kurdistan. Elie kedourie is professor of politics emeritus at the university of london and founder of the quarterly middle eastern studies. Jan 19, 2020 armed women on guard in a tehran square in 1979, during the early days of the iranian revolution. Books on individual middle eastern countries, books on the culture of the middle east, the religions and politics of the middle east and books on the conflicts that have beset the region in recent decades. Contending visions of the middle east the history and politics of orientalism zachary lockmans book offers a broad survey of the development of western knowledge about islam and the region we today call the middle east. This free book is a collection of chapters from key titles from our middle eastern politics range, all written by experts in their fields on a variety of topics ranging from the arab spring to.
And with the latest conflict in gaza, the middle east is more violent. A guide to middle east politics in 2014 world news the. Middle eastern politics is a diverse and deeply interesting field of study, which features daily in the global media. Zachary lockmans book offers a broad survey of the development of western knowledge about islam and the middle east. This sometimes obsessive search for authenticity does not fit the neat models of the political scientists and has left the politics of the middle east difficult to understand and predict. The book masterfully intertwines complex strands of historyfrom sectarian. Best books on the middle east, 2011 foreign policy. The politics of religious dissent in contemporary saudi arabia, by stephane. The modern middle east, third edition a political history. What are some good books to read and understand the history. Introduction this book examines the political history of the contemporary middle east. American policy during the cold war tried to prevent soviet union influence by supporting anticommunist regimes and backing israel against sovietsponsored.
Political theologians try to balance the demands of a tumultuous region with the delicate but long history of christianity in the middle east. I n the course of 1979, three events changed the middle east. Modern history of the middle east with a focus on political history. Islamic and middle eastern studies books edinburgh. The middle east is a fascinating region with complex cultures, religions, and relationships. The terms origins are seeped in controversy for having originally been a european imposition of geographic perspective according. In a sweeping and vivid survey, renowned historian bernard lewis charts the history of the middle east over the last 2,000 years, from the birth of christianity through the modern era, focusing on the successive transformations that have shaped it.
The perfect books to introduce newcomers to a turbulent and compelling. Jan 28, 2019 the middle east is not a term middle easterners gave themselves, but a british term borne of a colonial, european perspective. My middle east politics summer reading picks the washington. The government and politics of the middle east and north. The book middle east and the united states history, politics, and ideologies by david w. Home to the cradle of civilization, the middle eastinterchangeable with the near easthas seen many of the worlds oldest cultures and civilizations. History, said stephen, is a nightmare from which i am trying to escape.
Armed women on guard in a tehran square in 1979, during the early days of the iranian revolution. New books in middle eastern studies new books network. If youre interested in this area of the world, youll want to know the heads of state in the region, acronyms people use in the middle east, and some basic islamic terms, because many although by no means most of the worlds muslims. Dec 26, 2011 and with thatthe 2011 aardvark awards for the best books on the middle east. This profoundly important book draws on hundreds of interviews to create an oral history of the syrian uprising and. This is an ambitious, stimulating book that synthesizes a broad range of literature on middle east history and politics. There are many books which i have read over the past five years on the middle east and these key books are the ones which have given me a solid introduction to the region and the people who live and breath the historical events unfolding from the first world war to the arabisraeli conflicts to 911 to the arab uprisings in 2011.
The politics of religious dissent in contemporary saudi arabia. Popular middle east history books meet your next favorite book. Middle east history 5 books you must read why to read. The contributors to this volume are leading scholars in the field whose interests combine international relations and middle eastern studies. The cold war and the middle east redresses the balance by concentrating on the policies of the local actors. A list of 10 of the most useful books on the middle easts history, society. Jul 03, 2017 my middle east politics summer reading picks. But you need to understand the preisrael history thoroughly first. The 98 best middle east history books recommended by sam sanders, joshua. Ibrahim fraihats latest book, iran and saudi arabia. Middle east since 1914 the israelipalestinian conflict, and other issues. Its a history of oil on all continents, not just the middle east. Contending visions of the middle east by zachary lockman.
Taming a chaotic conflict edinburgh university press, 2020 is much more than an exploration of the history of animosity between saudi arabia and iran and its debilitating impact on an already volatile middle east. This has yielded a diversity of political theology disproportionate to the. Shifting global politics and the middle east marc lynch and amaney jamal what is the current structure of international relations, and how does this shape the politics of the middle east. The cold war has been researched in minute detail and written about at great length but it remains one of the most elusive and enigmatic conflicts of modern times. World, asia, international relations general, middle east general, international relations, comparative politics, geography, reference, demography publisher westview press collection. This has yielded a diversity of political theology disproportionate to the small size of middle eastern christian minorities. Jul 18, 20 ive included both palestinian and israeli works. He has written numerous books on the middle east and islam, including islam in the modern world and towards a modern iran. Beginning with ancient greek and roman conceptions of the world, this book goes on to discuss european perceptions of. Here, he provides a succinct overview of iraqi history and politics, with special attention to four key debates.
Modern history and politics contending visions of the middle east. He describes in great detail his travels, the trials and tribulations he faces, and the politics and livelihoods of the various tribes. The middle east and the united states brings together scholars and policy experts to provide an empirical and balanced assessment of us policy in the middle east primarily from the end of world war i to the present. James joyce, ulysses the end of the twentieth century and the onset of the twentyfirst have not been kind to students of international relations, let alone to those of the middle east. Over 300 entriesthis dictionary provides a useful overview of the wide array of political structures and systems that comprise the contemporary middle east. Top ten books for beginners on the middle east the conflict. American policy during the cold war tried to prevent soviet union influence by supporting anticommunist regimes and backing israel against sovietsponsored arab countries. United states foreign policy in the middle east wikipedia. Dictionary of politics in the middle east oxford reference. The middle east was the first to experience a neolithic revolution c.
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