Sunday, August 12, 2018

A History of the Modern Middle East 6th Edition by William L. Cleveland (Author), Martin Bunton (Author) (Westview Press / Routledge)



For those who want basic knowledge about the Middle East from the Ottoman Empire til today, there is no better source that than William Cleveland's A HISTORY OF THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST 3rd Ed. The book is readable and well organized. The subdivisions of chapters along with their titles facilitate the readers understanding of the topics. At first glance a work of over 500 pages looks extremely challenging however, I actually got to points where I could not put the book down.

If there is one thesis that runs through the book I would say it is found in the final conclusion. It is that we fail to understand the legacy spawned by the disemberment of the Ottoman Empire early in the 20th century. "The end of the Ottoman order created new Arab states separated by new borders drawn by British and French officials to serve European imperial interest." Coupled with the desire of Eurpe and America to maintain its supply of oil and the creation of the State of Isreal, there exist a formula for disorder and confusion that will probably never be settled.

Cleveland fairly gives both sides of the extremely controversial picture that pits two religions - Islam and Judism - against each other. He shows how both religions are also greater than the concept of religion held by most Americans. In both cases, religion is also a part of the government and law.

History of the Modern Middle East examines the profound and often dramatic transformations of the region in the past two centuries, from the Ottoman and Egyptian reforms, through the challenge of Western imperialism, to the impact of US foreign policies. Built around a framework of political history, while also carefully integrating social, cultural, and economic developments, this expertly crafted account provides readers with the most comprehensive, balanced and penetrating analysis of the modern Middle East.

The sixth edition has been revised to provide a thorough account of the major developments since 2012, including the tumultuous aftermath of the Arab uprisings, the sectarian conflict in Iraq and civil war in Syria that led to the rise of ISIS, the crises in Libya and Yemen, and the United States' nuclear talks with Iran. With brand-new timelines in each part, updated select bibliographies, and expanded online instructor resources, A History of the Modern Middle East remains the quintessential text for courses on Middle East history.

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