The State of the Middle East
An Atlas of Conflict and Resolution
1st Edition
Published on 1. October 2006
Book
Paperback/Softback
144 pages
978-1-84407-377-1 (ISBN)
Description
From the author of the bestselling The State of the World Atlas, here is an essential tool for understanding the Middle East and its pivotal role in global politics.
As Western powers attempt to redraw the map of the region, Dan Smith uses his forensic skills to unravel the history of this arena of confrontation and instability, from the Ottoman Empire to the present day. With customarily acute analysis, he highlights key issues and maps their global implication to explain why the Middle East has become, and will remain, the focal point for foreign policy.
The atlas covers a wide range of topics, including:
Imperial legacies * ethnic and religious differences * US presence and policies * Arab-Israeli wars * Israel and Palestine * Iran and Iraq * Military spending * the Kurds * Libya and the USA * oil and water.
As Western powers attempt to redraw the map of the region, Dan Smith uses his forensic skills to unravel the history of this arena of confrontation and instability, from the Ottoman Empire to the present day. With customarily acute analysis, he highlights key issues and maps their global implication to explain why the Middle East has become, and will remain, the focal point for foreign policy.
The atlas covers a wide range of topics, including:
Imperial legacies * ethnic and religious differences * US presence and policies * Arab-Israeli wars * Israel and Palestine * Iran and Iraq * Military spending * the Kurds * Libya and the USA * oil and water.
Reviews / Votes
'This book shows why there is still a need for reference books, at a time when we have almost limitless access to the internet....it decisively outscores both Google and Wikipedia on their two weakest points - context and provenance...a useful resource, for specialists and non-specialists alike.'Socialist Outlook, Spring 2007
'Ever since the pre-war days of Lancelot Horabin, maps have been a time-honoured way of conveying information to activists and the series from Earthscan have garnered plaudits for their graphical representation of everything from climate change to the status of women. Dan Smith has already produced two for them, The Atlas of War and Peace and The State of the World, both widely and deservedly praised. This latest one is in the same, brilliantly researched and effectively presented tradition. Since the world's warmongers seem to have seized upon the Middle East as their hegemonic area of choice, this atlas ought to be in every peace worker's armoury of information.'
Morning Star
Praise for Dan Smith's other atlases:
'It combines short brutally clear analysis with maps and graphics showing exactly what is going on around the world' New York Times
'A new kind of visual journalism...this book comes with a flavour of originality hard to find in publishing today' New Scientist
'Highly recommended.'
Dr Brandan Whyte, Geographical Education
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 248 mm
Width: 189 mm
Weight
410 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84407-377-1 (9781844073771)
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
New editions
Book
09/2008
2nd Edition
Earthscan Ltd
€41.03
Article exhausted; check different version
Person
Dan Smith is Secretary General of International Alert and former Director of the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO).
Content
Introduction * Part I : The Shaping of the Middle East * The Ottoman Empire * European Colonialism * The New Middle East after World War I * Decolonization * Anti-Colonial Forces * Arab Nationalism * The Formation of the State of Israel * Zionism and Anti-Semitism * Flight and Exile * Oil * The US Presence * Part II: Arenas of Conflict * Arab*Israeli Warfare * Israel and Palestine * Jerusalem * Lebanon * Syria * Libya * Egypt * Algeria * Iran * The Iran*Iraq War * Iraq * The Kurds * The Gulf Wars * Saudi Arabia * Crisis, Danger and Opportunity * Part III: The State of the Nations * Ethnicity and Language * Religion * Life Expectancy and Health * Population and Urbanization * Water and Sanitation * Education and Literacy * Government and Economy * Military Spending * Energy and Transportation * Water Resources * Labour and Migration * Refugees * Gender Equality * Human Rights * Sources * Index