An Introduction to the Modern Middle East: History, Religion, Political Economy, Politics

Combining thematic with country-by-country analysis, this new book gives an overview of Middle Eastern history, religion, political economy and politics.

Providing an accessible introduction to the politics of the Middle East, including the countries of the Persian Gulf, the eastern Mediterranean and North Africa, this text combines essential themes in the discipline of comparative politics with a country-by-country analysis of the Modern Middle East. While emphasizing politics, separate chapters also specifically address the history, religions and political economy of the region. Those introductory chapters together constitute a thematic overview essential to orienting students as they read each of the book’s individual country chapters (including a chapter devoted to Palestine). In each country chapter, a brief political history is followed by discussions of democratization, religious politics, women’s issues, civil society, economic development, privatization and foreign relations.

Throughout the book, short vignettes based on the author’s personal observations during his extensive travels in the Middle East offer students a chance for personal reflection on the topics discussed in each chapter. Each chapter concludes with a set of Suggested Readings, and terms are defined in a glossary.