The Shaping of the Modern Middle East
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Author Description
With this major revision of his classic The Middle East and the West (1964), a leading Middle East historian of our time offers a definitive and now more-timely-than-ever history of Western-Middle Eastern relations from the late seventeenth century to the present day. Fully revised to cover the volatile developments of the last three decades, The Shaping of the Modern Middle East sheds light on the climax and sudden end of the cold war, the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the Arab-Israeli wars, the formation and activities of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, the Persian Gulf War, and the Iranian revolution. Illuminating the region's geography, culture, history, language, and religion, Lewis explores the complex and often confusing issues of Arab nationalism, Islamic fundamentalism, and responses and reactions in the Middle East to centuries of Western influence, revealing the subtlety and sophistication of this dynamic civilization as no other scholar can.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the historical trajectory of Western-Middle Eastern relations from the late seventeenth century to the contemporary era to explain the origins of modern regional volatility. Bernard Lewis, a prominent historian of the Middle East, utilizes his extensive academic background to synthesize centuries of geopolitical interaction. He argues that understanding the current political climate requires a deep analysis of how Western influence has intersected with the region's unique geography, religious traditions, and cultural evolution over the last three hundred years.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Historical analysis of the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of Western influence.
- Examination of major 20th-century events including the Cold War, the Iranian Revolution, and the Persian Gulf War.
- Discussion of ideological movements such as Arab nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism.
Scope Limits
- The text focuses primarily on political and diplomatic history rather than detailed sociological or anthropological case studies of individual nations.
- It does not provide an exhaustive day-by-day chronicle of every minor conflict within the region.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts frequently cite this volume as a foundational text for understanding the historical context of modern Middle Eastern geopolitics. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a comprehensive overview suitable for students and scholars of international relations.
Page Count:
200
Publication Date:
1994-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190281839
ISBN-13:
9780190281830
Non-Fiction
History
Middle Eastern
International relations
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