Customer Reviews

State, Power and Politics in the Making of the Modern Middle East

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Although the 200-page limit places necessary limitations on what can be covered in a book such as this, this history of the modern Middle East by one of the region's foremost historians is a wonderful guide and an introduction to the region.

Owen covers a great deal in these 200 pages, and he does so concisely and lucidly. Not only does the book address the end of empire, the emergence of the states and the growth of state power, but also analyses parties, political economy, religious revival, military politics, and non-state actors.

As a person who teaches Middle East politics, I recommend this book highly.

This is a book by another "specialist" on the Middle East that would appeal to the common denominator reader. In an attempt to cover a wide scope of countries and issues and histories, Roger Owen, a well-respected authority in the subject matter, churns out a shallow text that does not even start getting to the issues at hand. It is a dull read that follows a standard template for what a professor believes should be fed to undergraduate students.
Professor Owen dwells in 280 pages on state building and political parties and movements, but lacks insight into events at the beginning of the 20th century that contradict his conclusions. I would not recommend this book for serious readers of Middle East issues or history, but it is useful for those under duress to produce a term paper at college.