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The Arab Center: The Promise of Moderation

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A reference of authority on Middle East Politics, terrorism, and hope through modernization.

This book is by far the best of what has been written about Modern Middle East Politics and current affairs. It takes the reader through a journey of the most important political events in the Middle East and the Arab world that affected the local scene and the international community in the past decade and a half, including the peace process, global terrorism, and political reform. Skillfully, Muasher links the current state of affairs with the cultural, religious, and historical dimensions of the region and the people, providing a thorough understanding of the roots and causes of local politics and its influence on global affairs.

Furthermore, the author's vast experience with the peace process as the first ambassador of Jordan to Israel, the ambassador of his country to the US, and Jordan's Foreign Minister, together with his leadership role in the political, economic and social reform efforts in the Arab world provide a unique internal perspective on the future of the Middle East. Muasher provides valuable insights on the ongoing struggle between the traditional sociopolitical forces and the progressive/moderate camp and its effect on democratic reform,international politics, and the relationship of the Arab world with the West.

The book is an easy read and proficiently simplifies to the reader very complicated cultural, historic, and religious issues and presents them in a very informative way.

Muasher represent a breath of a fresh air in the Middle East Politics. This is a MUST READ BOOK.

For those of us who follow Arab politics closely, I found that this book has many new things to say. Marwan Muasher has been privy to three unique situations. (A) He was the first Jordanian Ambassador to Israel. (B) He was one among very few to be around the late King Hussein during the last few weeks of his life (intrigues over the succession issue). (C) He is intimately familiar with details of the many peace process attempts with Israel.
More like a personal diary, it is full anecdotes that show the human side of his time with King Hussein and as ambassador. It is an easy read and has good insights into the psyche of the Arab and the Israeli political players.
The last part of the book also has some interesting things to say. It is a candid non apologetic exposé on reform in the Arab world--not academic but fairly analytical. He talks about his experience (and frustrations) during the formulation of a document and roadmap for reform in Jordan--liberalization of press, democratization of the election process, curbing nepotism, the institutionalization of a merit based public sector, gender and economic parity--and the challenges of this process. This document was presented as the National Agenda in 2005, and to date, that is what it remains, an agenda. Some themes of discussion in this part of the book are the resistance of an old social guard to any change, the dynamics of the political/economic elites in the Arab world and a view on the political role of the different religious movements in the region. A must book to have.

The Arab Center: The Promise of Moderation
This is probably the most comprehensive and objective approach to the Middle-East situation.
The author - Dr. Marvan Muasher - has been in a unique position to study the peace process between Palestine and Israel: as Jordan Foreign Minister, a political position, but also as Jordan Ambassador to Israel, a diplomatic position, his experience is diverse and well informed, taking the Israeli views into consideration as well as his own Arab understanding of the many facets of this long-lasting crisis.
The language is clear and - as a former Jordan Ambassador to the US - Dr. Muasher's presentation is intended to be easily understood by American readers, scholars, students or even uninformed members of the civil society at large.
Highly recommended to anyone interested in the Middle-East Peace process.

Dr. Marwan Muasher's compelling message in The Arab Center: the Promise of Moderation is a must read-especially for American and Western policymakers and academics. The Arab Center injects a much needed dose of reality about the challenges and opportunities in the Middle East today and where it is heading in the future.

A rare account of Arab diplomacy and the intricacies of backstage developments and deliberations that have shaped Jordan's foreign and domestic policies as well as regional initiatives, Musher's book is what every student of Middle East politics should study thoroughly. As an Arab Political Science and international affairs student in Western academia, I can attest to the paucity of Arab history books for Western consumption and study. I can only hope to see more Arab leaders, thinkers, politicians and diplomats follow Muasher's path in rebuilding the Arab world's historical narrative and thereby globalizing the message of the Arab Center on the international arena. History cannot be recorded if its leaders do not assume ownership of passing on the torch of their knowledge, expertise and lessons learnt.

Mushaer's account also presents a guide on how you can seize the moment and walk against the tide to make a difference. The author unconsciously offers the reader a formula for leadership in diplomacy: daft psychological skills, creative thinking, the ability to contain and challenge hard-nose bargaining and the art of communications.

My favorite parts of the book were those laden with personal anecdotes and descriptions of backstage developments and the decision-making processes. My understanding of how things work behind the scenes and why certain policy positions are shaped have been truly illuminated by these descriptions and analysis. Also, The psychological dimension Muasher illustrates about his time in Israel as Jordan's first Ambassador resonates with every Arab upon his/her first visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories. It is about breaking psychological and socio-cultural barriers and as Muasher eloquently says it is about takings leaps of faith in the pursuit of peace and prosperity for generations to come.

As he shares his professional and personal journey across twenty years of diplomacy and public service, Muasher weaves together a gripping paradigm that clearly defines and describes the political and socioeconomic dynamics in the Arab world today; The Arab Center. Muasher not only coins a novel formula, he identifies the criteria for membership- moderation for peace, prosperity and pluralism. He also identifies the Israeli, American and European counterparts with which the Arab centrists can work with as well as the rejectionists which Arab centrists will have to challenge. His argument about maintaining the Center and strengthening its cause for moderation is logical, pragmatic but also passionate: Arabs cannot cherry pick the pieces of moderation that best-suit them. Rather, he says emphatically, the Arab Center rests on two pillars of moderation: peace and reform. The Center cannot stand on one leg for too long.

Finally, Muasher's concluding chapter is most compelling. He connects the dots so clearly and builds his case so cogently about the past, present and future of the region. Failure to end the lingering Palestinian-Israeli conflict, establish a lasting peace AND failure to embrace cultural and political diversity and to reform is a recipe for disaster for the region and all the stake-holders involved:Arabs, Israelis, Americans and the West alike. I only hope his audience heeds his message.

A book that is very useful to all people that they have a particular interest for the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinial conflict.

A very detailed and easy to read chronicle of recent events in Jordan's history. Mr. Muasher has done a phenomenal job in providing a detailed account of these events. His sincerity, devotion and love for his country is very evident in every part of the book. I am proud to have a fellow Jordanian produce such a magnificent document. All of Jordan should be proud of Mr. Muasher's accomplishments and contributions to the peace process in the Middle East. God Bless!

its a very good book, full of detailed information about a very sensitive period of the middle east.