Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book introduces readers to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by exploring not just the dynamics of government but other defining regional characteristics—geographic backdrop, historical context, ethnic and religious composition, economic production, demographic trends, and contemporary social issues. The MENA demonstrates how physical space and climactic constraints can influence the most basic patterns of human life. The book operates toward three goals. First, by delivering critical information about different countries in a consistent format, it makes a perplexing region more concrete, empirical, and knowable through the universal language of politics. Second, it underscores the diversity of the Middle Eastern and North African states. Finally, this book stresses how quickly political landscapes can change. It ends by discussing foreign policy, including external threats, global pressures, and relations with hegemonic powers like the United States.