ABSTRACT

The Middle East is an area of great importance globally, yet misperceptions abound. Events have made it a region of special interest to the West and so the search for understanding gains momentum. This publication is intended to clarify the region’s complex history and issues. In developing this project, the contributors’ set out to explore seven significant themes that are usually not found in other sources. While many books focus on political history and conflicts, this two-volume work deals specifically with culture, religion, women, economics, governance, and media, as well as the role that the region’s modern history has played in shaping its society and worldview.

part |116 pages

Politics of Governing in the Middle East

chapter |3 pages

Middle Eastern Governance

An Introduction

chapter |12 pages

Monarchies in the Middle East

chapter |11 pages

Syria

chapter |13 pages

Lebanon

chapter |12 pages

Iran

chapter |11 pages

Israel

chapter |14 pages

Iraq

chapter |3 pages

Postscript

part |98 pages

Middle East Economics

chapter |5 pages

Economics in the Middle East

An Introduction

chapter |8 pages

Section 1. Common Issues

Oil

chapter |7 pages

Water

chapter |6 pages

Demography

chapter |6 pages

Governance

chapter |9 pages

Section 2. Societies

Gulf Monarchies

chapter |7 pages

Iraq

chapter |10 pages

Arab Levant

chapter |7 pages

Nile Valley

chapter |8 pages

Maghreb

chapter |11 pages

Iran

chapter |8 pages

Israel

chapter |4 pages

Conclusion

Great opportunities, unimpressive results, Modest Prospects

part |106 pages

Middle East Media

chapter |15 pages

The Middle East Media

An Introduction

chapter |7 pages

The Syrian Media

chapter |9 pages

The Egyptian Media

chapter |8 pages

Iraq

From Captive to relatively free Media

chapter |9 pages

The Israeli Media

chapter |9 pages

How Satellite TV Challenges State Media Monopoly

Al-Jazeera's Coverage of syria

part |73 pages

Religion in the Middle East

chapter |3 pages

Religion in the Middle East

An Introduction

chapter |10 pages

Homogeneity and Diversity

chapter |8 pages

Protectors of the Faith

chapter |9 pages

The Republic of Islam

chapter |10 pages

The Republic of Religions

chapter |10 pages

Islam in Conflict

chapter |9 pages

The Jewish State

chapter |2 pages

Conclusion

part |74 pages

Middle East Cultures

chapter |2 pages

Section 1. Arab Culture

Middle Eastern Culture: An Introduction

chapter |7 pages

Culture in Post-Saddam Iraq

chapter |9 pages

Section 2. Iranian Culture

The Post-Revolutionary Culture of Iran: Transformation and Islamization

chapter |9 pages

“Cultura Oficial” in Post-Revolutionary Iran

The Case of state-sponsored Political wall Murals

chapter |6 pages

Section 3. Israeli Culture

Israel, Tel Aviv, and the Mediterranean Cultural Theme

chapter |11 pages

Contemporary Israeli Art

chapter |10 pages

Israeli Cinema

chapter |8 pages

Israeli Popular Music

part |98 pages

People of the Middle East

chapter |7 pages

The People of the Middle East

An Introduction

chapter |12 pages

The Arabs

chapter |28 pages

The Persians

chapter |7 pages

Turkic Minorities

chapter |12 pages

The Jews

chapter |11 pages

The Kurds

chapter |10 pages

The Berbers

part |76 pages

Women in the Middle East

chapter |8 pages

Women's Status in the Middle East

An Introduction

chapter |10 pages

Women in Egypt

chapter |10 pages

Women in Iran

chapter |8 pages

Women in Afghanistan

chapter |7 pages

Women in Saudi Arabia

chapter |10 pages

Women in Iraq

chapter |9 pages

Jewish Women in Israel

chapter |4 pages

Middle Eastern Women

Patterns and trends

chapter |2 pages

Conclusion