A History of the Modern Middle East - Couverture souple

Cleveland, William L; Bunton, Martin

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0813343747 ISBN 13 : 9780813343747

Editeur : Westview Press, 2008

Synopsis

Book by Cleveland William L Bunton Martin

A propos du livre

Book Description :

Paperback: 592 pages Publisher: Westview Press; 2nd edition (November 1, 1999) Language: English ISBN: 0813334896 Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.0 x 1.2 inches The Middle East is such a multi-faced region with such a rich historical legacy that even people who strive to be well-informed cannot help but feel bewildered at its cultural, political, and religious complexity. Given the blustering aggressiveness of the post-September 11 U.S. policy toward the region, however, Americans owe it to themselves to become far more familiar with the complexities of the Middle East than has been our wont up to now. Popular magazine articles that attempt to "explain" Islamic rage as the result of a "fear of modernity" or "jealousy of the west's freedoms" may as well bear a stamp proclaiming their authorship by the "Ministry of Propaganda." As an alternative, I recommend Professor Cleveland's textbook, which serves as a brief but remarkably thorough introduction to the history of this volatile part of the world. No, the book does not cover Afghanistan or Pakistan, but clearly political currents in these nations are closely linked with what has transpired in Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, and the rest of the Middle East proper. At the heart of the current crisis is, of course, the Israeli-Palestinian condundrum, and here the author's explanations and analyses are clear, balanced, and incisive. His discussions of the evolution of Saddam Hussein's Iraq and the background *and consequences* of the 1991 Gulf War are also invaluable. In his recounting of the Iranian revolution, Cleveland offers a fascinating analysis of the apparent Islamicist rejection of "modernity," showing that those in the Middle East who reject the West do not crave a return to the ancient past, but instead wish to follow a modernization pathway that is guided by indigenous cultural principles, including the precepts of Islam. Perhaps most impressive, however, is what Cleveland has to say toward the end of the book regarding the dangers of an overly intrusive and domineering presence in the Islamic Middle East by the lone remaining planetary superpower, the U.S. He does not prophesy the recent terrorism that has afflicted this country, but he does criticize the U.S. for policies that seem to rely more upon aerial bombardment than careful diplomacy. The application of Cleveland's conclusions to a reevaluation of the likely long-term consequences of "America's new war" is not a comforting process, but it's one that perhaps more Americans need to undertake.

Revue de presse :

“This volume is history in the best sense. ... A superbly written analysis of the social and political disruptions of the Middle East. This updated volume does an excellent job of weaving together various strands of a complex subject in a coherent narrative. It is recommended reading for all serious students who want to understand how the Middle East got to where it is today.”
—Phebe Marr, author of The Modern History of Iraq and fellow at the U.S. Institute for Peace

"This extensive and lucid book provides a laudable introduction to the political history of the Middle East, tracing its development from Islam's rise in the seventh century to the recent direct American military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. . . . Does a commendable job in linking historical events in fluid, logical narrative sequences that help readers unfamiliar with the Middle East connect the events."
—American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences

“This is the best comprehensive survey of modern Middle East history in the literature. The authors excel at translating complex and controversial subject matter in a highly readable manner without sacrificing cogent and insightful analysis. I highly recommend it.”
—David W. Lesch, professor of Middle East History, Trinity University

À propos de cette édition

• Éditeur: Westview Press
• Date d'édition: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0813343747
• ISBN 13: 9780813343747
• Reliure: Broché
• Numéro d'édition: 4
• Nombre de pages: 640