The genius of this book is that it integrates together the different themes which run through Middle Eastern politics, creating a coherent understanding of the dynamics which shape events. The radical transformation of the Middle East since 2011 forms a key part of the ongoing analysis, but it is rightly set within the context of underlying problems, trends and issues. The book should be required reading for all those wanting to understand the region.
-Tim Niblock, University of Exeter
I welcome the fourth edition of this comprehensive guide to the politics of such an important region of the world. It is a must for all those who want to understand the complex politics of the modern Middle East.
-Roger Owen, Harvard University
With a keen eye for detail and an accessible style, Beverley Milton-Edwards, one of the foremost scholars of the Middle East, provides us with a comprehensive and up-to-date examination of the region from World War I up to the present. This is a superb book, going beyond studies of colonialism, nationalism, power, and interstate conflict. Milton-Edwards looks also at topics and areas equally consequential in shaping the Middle East, including political Islam, struggles for democracy, and the position of women and ethnic minorities. This is a must-reading for anyone with a serious interest in understanding the forces shaping the political history of the Middle East.
-Mehran Kamrava, Georgetown University-Qatar