Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Middle East Politics in the 21st Century: Patterns of Continuity and Change Part 1: Dynamics in Middle East Politics 2. The Burden of History: From Empire to Nation State 3. Legacy of Islam: Continuity and Change Part 2: Major Governments and Politics. The Northern Belt 4. The Republic of Turkey 5. The Islamic Republic of Iran with Ali Rezai The Fertile Crescent 6. The Republic of Iraq with Shereen T. Ismael 7. The Syrian Arab Republic and the Lebanese Republic 8. The State of Israel and the Palestinian National Authority with Glenn E. Perry West and East of the Red Sea 9. The Arab Republic of Egypt 10. The Gulf Cooperation Council

About the Author

Tareq Y. Ismael is Professor of Political Science at the University of Calgary, Canada. He is the Secretary General of the International Association of Middle Eastern Studies and co-editor of The International Journal of Contemporary Iraqi Studies. His current research focuses on human rights and civil society in the Middle East, and he has written numerous books on ideologies in the Middle East and the international and domestic politics of Middle Eastern countries. Jacqueline S. Ismael is Professor of Social Work at the University of Calgary, Canada. Her research interests and numerous publications lie in the areas of Canadian social policy, international social development, comparative welfare states, human rights, social change. She is one of the founding members of the International Association of Contemporary Iraqi Studies and is co-editor of The International Journal of Contemporary Iraqi Studies.