2nd Edition
The Middle East Today Political, Geographical and Cultural Perspectives
The new edition of The Middle East Today provides an accessible and comprehensive introductory textbook for undergraduate students of Middle East Studies, Middle East politics and geography. This updated and revised edition features a host of pedagogical features to assist students with their learning, including; detailed maps and images, case studies on key issues, boxed sections and suggestions for further reading.
The book highlights the current issues facing the Middle East, linking them to the rich political, geographical and cultural history of the region. The author examines the crises and conflicts, both current and potential, likely to dominate the region in coming years.
The second edition has been fully updated and revised to include discussion of such recent events as:
- the effects of the Arab Spring
- Turkey’s growing influence in the region
- the dramatic increase in Iran’s nuclear capabilities
- Usama bin Laden’s death and declining support for violent extremist movements in the Middle East.
Further supplemented by a companion website containing sample chapters, a selection of maps formatted for use in presentations, and annotated links to online resources and websites, The Middle East Today is an essential resource for all students of Middle East Studies, Middle East politics and geography.
PART I Introduction to the Region CHAPTER 1 The Middle East and North Africa: Between Image and Reality CHAPTER 2 The Geography of the Middle East and North Africa CHAPTER 3 Culture and Society in the Middle East and North Africa Part II Emergence and Evolution of the Region: CHAPTER 4 Historical Foundations: The Islamic and Arab Legacies CHAPTER 5 The Making of the Modern Middle East : The Ottoman Legacy CHAPTER 6 Independent States and Geopolitics: The Legacy of Western Imperialism CHAPTER 7 The Contemporary State Systems: A System in FluxCHAPTER 8 Contemporary Islamist Thought: The Power of Ideology Part III Contemporary Issues and Challenges:CHAPTER 9 Economic Challenges: A Region of Disparities CHAPTER 10 The Middle East Conflicts CHAPTER 11 Civil Society, Media and Democratic Reform CHAPTER 12 The 2011 Revolutions and the Future of the Region Glossary Bibliography Index
Biography
Dr. Dona J. Stewart is adjunct professor at the National Defense University's Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies. Formerly she directed the Middle East Institute, at Georgia State University (US). She was a Fulbright scholar in Jordan and student at the American University in Cairo.
'This textbook provides a clearly written, concise introduction to the modern Middle East. Short, easy-to-digest pieces are augmented by textbooks and maps, exploring all aspects of the region from politics and government, to history, geography, and various cultural perspectives. While perhaps too advanced for some high school students, this book would find a home in Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes or libraries meant to support them, and is also suitable for many university level survey courses on the Middle East.' – Middle East Outreach Council, Honorable Mention, Fall 2009
