This one basically covers two topics: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and troublespots in the Arab world and Persian Gulf. The first half brings together a half-dozen or so pieces that chronicle the demise of the Oslo Peace Process, the emergence of the second intifada, and the current mess the parties have got themselves into now. Highlights include David Makovsky on the breakdown of Oslo, Khalil Shikaki on Palestinian politics during the intifada, and Gal Luft on suicide bombings. The second half is more of a grab-bag, and includes articles on Saudia Arabia, Iraq (by Ken Pollack), Iran, Libya, Egypt, and so forth. All the articles in the book were published recently, so they're still worth reading (altho obviously events move quickly in this part of the world), and all have that authoritative-yet-accessible Foreign Affairs style. All in all, this is a handy volume that would make an excellent text for students or provide an intelligent general reader with the kind of serious background and objective analysis that we rarely see in today's I-can-scream-louder-than-you political climate.
ThriftBooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. We personally assess every book's quality and offer rare, out-of-print treasures. We deliver the joy of reading in recyclable packaging with free standard shipping on US orders over $15. ThriftBooks.com. Read more. Spend less.