War and Peace in the Middle East Paperback by Avi Shlaim

Product Details

• Publisher: Penguin Books (1995-08-01)
• Language: English
• Paperback: 160 pages
• ISBN-13: 9780140245646
• Item Weight: 130.41 grams
• Dimensions: 19.68 x 13.08 x 1.14 cm

A succinct, accessible analysis of the politics of the Middle East

Middle Eastern politics often seem complex to the point of mysteriousness. How can Americans decipher the latest diplomatic tilt, rumor of war, or threat to oil supplies? Where will the Middle East’s centuries-old quest for self-determination lead?

Avi Shlaim, Oxford professor of international relations, finds answers in a historical context that is often overlooked. With a special focus on the last half-century, he illuminates the four phases of external involvement—Ottoman, European, Superpower, and American—that have molded the political evolution of the Middle East. He assesses the past roles of Britain, France, and the former Soviet Union, clarifies how power and influence have shifted in the aftermath of the Cold War, and appraises both the recurrent myopia of the United States and the country’s essential function as a mediator. Shrewd, witty, and highly readable, this book offers invaluable insights for the student and general reader about one of the most volatile subsystems of international politics.

“Remarkable...breathtaking in its scope and historical precision, this is highly recommended volume for both public and academic libraries.”—Library Journal

About the Author

Avi Shlaim was born in Baghdad in 1945, grew up in Israel, and studied at Cambridge University and the London School of Economics. He is an emeritus fellow of St. Anthony's College and a former professor of international relations at the University of Oxford. He was elected a fellow of the British Academy in 2006. His books include Collusion Across the Jordan: King Abdullah, the Zionist Movement, and the Partition of Palestine (winner of the Political Studies Association’s 1988 WJM Mackenzie Book Prize); The Politics of Partition; War and Peace in the Middle East: A Concise History; and The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World.