Lynne Rienner Understanding the Contemporary Middle East (Understanding Series)

"Understanding the Contemporary Middle East" is an interdisciplinary book designed for use both as a core text for "Introduction to the Middle East" courses and as a supplement in a variety of discipline-oriented curriculums. The geographical domain of the volume is the Arab world (the Levant, the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa), Iran, Israel and Turkey; its temporal focus is post-World War II, with a particular emphasis on the present decade. There are very few books for classroom use that introduce students to the Middle East as a whole, rather than focusing on a specific discipline. "Understanding the Contemporary Middle East" fills that gap. The 14 authors, writing with clarity and precision, address a range of crucial issues facing the region as it looks toward the 21st century; there are chapters on geography, history, politics, economics, international relations, the status of women, religion, class and ethnicity, patterns of population growth, and the literature and culture of the region. Each chapter provides up-to-date - and engaging - description and analysis, along with suggestions for further reading. Numerous maps and photographs help the reader gain a feel for the region.