
Contested Lands
A History of the Middle East From the First World War to the Present
T. G. Fraser(Author)
Haus Publishing
Published on 11. September 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-1-914979-07-1 (ISBN)
Description
In an accessible survey of the last century, Contested Lands tells the story of the Middle East since the First World War: what happened, why, and what it all means today.
With a focus on the many conflicts in the region over the last one hundred years, T. G. Fraser analyses the fault lines of the tension: the damaging legacies of imperialism; the creation of the State of Israel; the competition between secular, autocratic rulers and emerging democratic and theocratic forces; and the rise - and fall - of Arab Nationalism in the face of fraying regional alliances and the Islamic revival.
Against this backdrop comes the twenty-first century, marked first by the tragedy of 9/11, then the 'Arab Spring', the Syria's civil war and now the Israel-Hamas conflict. And amid it all, complex social and economic change have transformed the region. In Contested Lands, T. G. Fraser untangles the threads of history in the Middle East and, in doing so, weaves a detailed and insightful picture of a troubled region and why its heritage remains important today.
With a focus on the many conflicts in the region over the last one hundred years, T. G. Fraser analyses the fault lines of the tension: the damaging legacies of imperialism; the creation of the State of Israel; the competition between secular, autocratic rulers and emerging democratic and theocratic forces; and the rise - and fall - of Arab Nationalism in the face of fraying regional alliances and the Islamic revival.
Against this backdrop comes the twenty-first century, marked first by the tragedy of 9/11, then the 'Arab Spring', the Syria's civil war and now the Israel-Hamas conflict. And amid it all, complex social and economic change have transformed the region. In Contested Lands, T. G. Fraser untangles the threads of history in the Middle East and, in doing so, weaves a detailed and insightful picture of a troubled region and why its heritage remains important today.
Reviews / Votes
'Contested Lands is a thorough and, indeed, riveting account of the major historical developments in the Middle East following World War I. Using incisive language, T.G. Fraser looks at both the local and the global levels to develop a clear picture of a region that so much scholarship has tended to essentialise.' -- Oxford Middle East Review 'A welcome addition to the literature on Middle East history and will serve as an introductory volume for undergraduate students and general readers seeking to learn more about the region's history and the role Western countries have played in it.' -- Manara Magazine 'A good starting point for further reading.' -- Palestine ChronicleMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
20 illustrations, 2 maps
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
308 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-914979-07-1 (9781914979071)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
11/2021
Haus Publishing
€36.99
Available for download
Person
T. G. Fraser is emeritus professor at Ulster University and the author of Chaim Weizmann: The Zionist Dream (2009) and, with Andrew Mango and Robert McNamara, The Makers of the Modern Middle East (2015).
Content
1. The Middle East on the Eve of War // 1
2. The Remaking of the Middle East // 21
3. The New Imperialists Under Challenge // 47
4. The Middle East in Transition // 75
5. The Second World War and the Middle East // 99
6. The United States, the United Nations, and the Future of Palestine // 117
7. War and Revolution // 145
8. From War to War // 173
9. The Middle East Transformed // 201
10. The Search for Stability // 229
11. The Middle East in Turmoil // 257
12. Conclusion // 295
Acknowledgements // 303
Notes // 305
Index // 329
2. The Remaking of the Middle East // 21
3. The New Imperialists Under Challenge // 47
4. The Middle East in Transition // 75
5. The Second World War and the Middle East // 99
6. The United States, the United Nations, and the Future of Palestine // 117
7. War and Revolution // 145
8. From War to War // 173
9. The Middle East Transformed // 201
10. The Search for Stability // 229
11. The Middle East in Turmoil // 257
12. Conclusion // 295
Acknowledgements // 303
Notes // 305
Index // 329