In a time of great political change and unrest, these highly topical texts offer succinct accounts of the contemporary political environment in the Middle East.
 

Written in a clear and accessible manner, this series fills a conspicuous gap in the existing academic literature on the MENA region. It will be of interest not only to students of international politics and Middle East studies, but also to anyone travelling in or wanting to learn more about the region. Here we have provided a selection of the most recent titles, but you can see below for links to the rest of the series. 

To receive 20% off any of the series titles for a limited time only*, enter the code GDC72 at checkout.

 Lebanon: The Politics of a Penetrated Society

Systematically exploring Lebanon’s history, society and politics, the author stresses the importance of the crucial role of external actors in the Lebanese system. The analysis encompasses:

• the formation of the state
• weaknesses and dynamics of the Lebanese state
• the civil war
• post-war government and change
• the Lebanese economy
• foreign policy

 Libya: Continuity and Change

Following a brief look at pre-independence Libya, the author explores the way in which the fragility of the post-independence state, unable to contain rising Arab nationalist struggles and growing economic expectations, opened the way for the Free Unionist Officers led by Muammar al-Qaddafi to seize power. He then traces the progressive development of the revolutionary state through four stages:

• the consolidation of power to 1973
• the projection of power to 1986
• withdrawal and retrenchment to 1999
• the redefinition of the state after 1999.

Jordan: A Hashemite Legacy, 2nd Edition

Under the rule of King Abdullah II, Jordan has remained an influential regional player in the Middle East Peace Process, its strategic position on the borders of Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq ensuring that it cannot be overlooked in the regional and international politics. The new edition includes coverage and discussion of:

• the reign of King Abdullah II
• the involvement of the US in the Iraq war and the effect on this on Jordan’s alignment with the West
• the country’s recent economic growth, with an emphasis on economic liberalisation, privatisation, promotion of tourism and encouragement of foreign investment
• the position of Jordan as a point of continuity in an increasingly unstable Middle East.

Turkey: Challenges of Continuity and Change

The authors put issues relevant to Turkey today – such as consolidating democracy, dealing with economic development issues, improving its human rights record and its foreign policy – in an historical context, allowing comparisons with other late developers in the world and reflecting the complexity of Turkish political and socio-economic developments. Turkey also argues that the modernization process that started in the nineteenth century, with all its elements including secularization and Westernization, has taken root.

* = Offer valid until 26th February 2013.
 

Since 2000, there has been a considerable effort in Turkish cinema to come to terms with the military’s intervention in politics and subsequent national trauma. It has resulted in an outpouring of cinematic texts. Texts such as Women and Turkish Cinema, The Routledge Dictionary of Turkish Cinema and Understanding Media and Culture in Turkey will be invaluable resources for students and scholars of Film Studies, Gender Studies and Middle East Studies, amongst others.
 

Women and Turkish Cinema: The central proposition of this book is that enforced depolticisation introduced after the coup is responsible for uniting feminism and film in 1980s Turkey. The feminist movement was able to flourish precisely because it was not perceived as political or politically significant. In a parallel move in the films of the 1980s there was an increased tendency to focus on the individual, on women’s issues and lives, in order to avoid the overtly political.

The Routledge Dictionary of Turkish Cinema (forthcoming: This book is a comprehensive dictionary of Turkish cinema, which offers reliable, up-to-date and independent information from a critical and analytical point of view regarding prominent filmmakers, films, actors, screenwriters, cinematographers, editors, producers, significant themes, genres, movements, theories, production modes, film journals, film schools and professional organizations. 

Understanding Media and Culture in Turkey (forthcoming): Three themes, "Structures," "Spaces" and "Voices," make up the core structure of the book, providing an intellectual and epistemological arc. Following an introductory chapter written by the co-editors, the first section, "Structures," provides critical examinations of the structural underpinnings of contemporary Turkish media and culture through analyses of, for example, journalism, cultural policy, Information Society and citizenship. The second section, "Spaces," connects Turkish media and culture to spatial/locational factors: Turkey’s role and place in Europe; the Turkish diasporic space; representations of the Turkish "East;" and Istanbul as urban/social space. In the final section, "Voices," the book turns toward chapters that address central issues in contemporary Turkish media—for example, Islam, arabesk music and the presentation of Kurds on national television—from a cultural perspective.

For more books on Turkish Cinema, view our online catalogue.

The Routledge Jewish Studies Series covers the disciplines of history, sociology, anthropology, culture, politics, philosophy, theology, religion, as they relate to Jewish affairs. Here we present five books that emphasise the diversity and originality of the series. Click on the links below to find out more!

Bestseller God, Jews and the Media delves into the complex relationship between Judaism and the mass media to provide a comprehensive examination of modern Jewish identity in the information age. Chapters explore how the impact of Judaism is to be found particularly in the religious media in Israel – haredi and modern Orthodox – and looks at the evolution of new patterns of religious advertising, the growth and impact of the internet on Jewish identity, and the very legitimacy of certain media in the eyes of religious leaders.

Jews and India is a topic that has received little attention and this book seeks to rectify the situation. Despite the fact that the Indian Jewish population constitutes one of the country’s tiniest minorities, the relations of the local Jews with other communities form an integral part in the history of Indian multiculturalism. This has become increasingly apparent over the last two centuries as Judaism and its image have been incorporated into the discussions of some of the most prominent figures of different religious and nationalist movements, leaders of independent India, and the Indian mass media. Furthermore, recent decades witnessed mass adoption of Israelite identity by Indians from two different regions and religious groups.

Collaboration with the Nazis examines the changes in representing collaboration, during the Holocaust, especially in the destruction of European Jewry, in the public discourse and the historiography of various countries in Europe that were occupied by the Germans, or were considered, at least during part of the war, as Germany's allies or satellites.

Muscular Judaism has been described by the Journal of Israeli History as the "outcome of a serious, illuminating, and original project that successfully integrates its insights into a well-established field of research and contributes to an ongoing critical discussion on the origins and implications of the Zionist discourse. The book is very well written, its arguments are clear and convincing. Presner's use of theory is useful but not exaggerated, and his historiographical methods are very productive".

The Jews of Ethiopia offers the results of the most recent research carried out in European and Israeli universities on Ethiopian Jews. With a special focus on Europe and the role played by German, English and Italian Jewish communities in creating a new Jewish Ethiopian identity, it investigates such issues as the formation of a new Ethiopian Jewish elite and the transformation of the identity from Ethiopian Falashas to the Jews of Ethiopia during the twentieth century.
 

From an examination of economic development in the Middle East in the aftermath of the Arab Spring to an analytical survey of Turkish foreign policy to the aftermath of Usama bin Laden’s death, our textbooks cover all you need to know about the Middle East Today. All books listed below are available for inspection and most have helpful companion websites with free instructor resources. Just click on the links to find out more about each title, and to order your complimentary inspection copies today!

Muslims have been present in South Asia for 14 centuries. Nearly 40% of the people of this vast land mass follow the religion of Islam, and Muslim contribution to the cultural heritage of the sub-continent has been extensive.

Using a chronological framework, the book discusses the main events in each period between c. 600 CE and the present day, along with the key social and cultural themes. It discusses a range of topics, including:

•How power was secured, and how was it exercised

•The crisis of confidence caused by the arrival of the West in the sub-continent

•How the Indo-Islamic synthesis in various facets of life and culture came about

Excerpts at the end of each chapter allow for further discussion, and detailed maps alongside the text help visualise the changes through each time period. Introducing the reader to the issues concerning the Islamic past of South Asia, the book is a useful text for students and scholars of South Asian History and Religious Studies.
 

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the most prominent issues in world politics today. Few other issues have dominated the world’s headlines and have attracted such attention from policy makers, the academic community, political analysts, and the world’s media.

The Routledge Handbook on the Israeli- Palestinian Conflict offers a comprehensive and accessible overview of the most contentious and protracted political issue in the Middle East. Bringing together a range of top experts from Israel, Palestine, Europe and North America the Handbook tackles a range of topics including:

•The historical background to the conflict

•peace efforts

•domestic politics

•critical issues such as displacement, Jerusalem and settler movements

•the role of outside players such as the Arab states, the US and the EU
This Handbook provides the reader with an understanding of the complexity of the issues that need to be addressed in order to resolve the conflict, and a detailed examination of the varied interests of the actors involved. In-depth analysis of the conflict is supplemented by a chronology of the conflict, key documents and a range of maps.

The contributors are all leading authorities in their field and have published extensively on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict/peace process. Many have played a leading role in various Track II initiatives accompanying the peace process.
 

Routledge Major Works WINTER BACKLIST OFFER! (from 12/12/12 – 12/3/13)

There is a fantastic range of titles on offer from subject areas such as Allied Health, Asian Studies, Business, Economics, Education, History, Linguistics, Literature, Media, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Religion and Sociology.

This eclectic mix of titles includes collections on Mao Zedong, Sufism, Marketing Research, Journalism, Radio, French Feminists, War and Human Rights.

Click here to download our list of 50 titles currently available to purchase!

To receive 20% off simply add your selection of books to your cart, place MWINTER20 into the Discount code field and then “Update Cart”!

This particular offer really shows the scope and range of Routledge Major Works-an essential reference teaching programme for your library.

Please click here to view the interview on BookTV.org.

Since the 19th century the Gulf region has been an area of intense interest, having been influenced first by the British and more recently by the Americans. This book charts the changing security and political priorities of these two powers and how they have shaped the region.

Adopting a narrative approach, the author provides background history on British involvement from the 19th century and a detailed analysis of the years after the Second World War, when oil supply became more critical. He covers the growth of US influence and the British withdrawal, and follows more recent changes as the US built up its military presence following Desert Storm and the invasion of Iraq. Looking at the three enduring missions fulfilled by the British - maintaining interstate order, protecting the free flow of commerce, which later included petroleum; and keeping out other Great Powers – the book demonstrates how these had by 1991 been assumed almost entirely by the American leaders.

A comprehensive and thorough look at the history of the Gulf and the contemporary issues affecting the region, this will be essential reading for students of Middle East history, military history and diplomatic history.

Visit the author's website at www.thepoliticsandsecurityofthegulf.com
 

Click here to view the 2013 Middle East Studies Catalogue

This catalog contains key textbooks, cutting edge research and titles for professionals, from new and established authors. From key research on vital topics, to textbooks for undergraduate and postgraduate courses, you will find whatever you need to further your own research or professional interests, challenge your students, and provide essential reference materials for your institutional library.

Navigate the catalog and use it to:

* Browse full details of all our new titles; including tables of contents, reviews, author biographies and more
* Recommend titles of interest to your librarian
* Request complimentary exam copies where offered
* Create unique booklists to browse, buy, and forward to friends, colleagues and librarians.

Instructors teaching a relevant class with more than twelve students are invited to request complimentary exam copies of any title marked as a textbook, either by clicking on the ‘Complimentary Exam Copy’ buttons or by contacting gemma.walker@tandf.co.uk with your course details

Click here to view the catalogue, or e-mail chris.green@tandf.co.uk to request a hardcopy of this catalogue.

Budge was Keeper of the British Museum’s department of oriental antiquities from 1894 until his retirement in 1924 and carried out a many number of searches within Egypt.

The fifteen re-published titles on Egypt are part of the Routledge Revivals Programme. The programme is designed to reissue a wealth of out-of-print and unavailable titles written by some of the leading academic scholars of the last 120 years.

Sir E. A. Wallis Budge is a highly respected authority within the field of Ancient Egypt. Not only did his career consist of being a Keeper at the British Museum, but he also carried out many projects in Egypt searching for Ancient Egyptian artefacts. The search by Budge unearthed thousands of objects which are kept by the British Museum, including papyri and statues. Budge’s lifelong research into Ancient Egypt was of great significance for academics, but was also of huge historical and cultural importance.

The Egypt series by Sir E. A. Wallis Budge covers a wide spectrum of topics within the field of Egyptology and Ancient Egypt. Covering religion, history and language, the revivals series provides invaluable reference material from one of the subject’s most important academics on all periods of Egypt’s rich history.

Each title within the series is available to purchase individually, allowing you to choose the most significant areas of study. See the below titles for more information:

Egyptian Religion

Egyptian Tales & Romances

Egyptian Language

A History of Egypt Vol. I

A History of Egypt Vol. II

A History of Egypt Vol. III

A History of Egypt Vol. IV

A History of Egypt Vol. V

A History of Egypt Vol. VI

A History of Egypt Vol. VII

A History of Egypt Vol. VIII

Egyptian Literature Vol. I

Egyptian Literature Vol. II

The Book of the Kings of Egypt Vol. I

The Book of the Kings of Egypt Vol. II

These titles are also all soon to be published as part of our e-Books programme, making key titles easily accessible.
 

Iranian Elites and Turkish Rulers has won the Saidi-Sirjani Award for best book on Iran published in 2010-11. The award will be presented in Istanbul on August 1st 2012, on the occasion of the 9th biennial conference of Iranian Studies. Routledge wishes to extend their congratulations to David Durand-Guedy for winning this award.

From the International Society for Iranian Studies webpage: The Saidi-Sirjani Award is granted biennially by the International Society for Iranian Studies on behalf of the Persian Heritage Foundation. Established in 1995, the purpose of the Award is to promote and encourage scholarship in the field of Iranian studies, as well as to honor the memory of Ali-Akbar Saidi-Sirjani (1931-1994), the noted Iranian historian, literary critic, and author, in appreciation for his scholarship, his courage, and his indefatigable struggle for freedom of expression. (http://iranianstudies.com/awards/saidiSirjani)

Paul Wittek’s The Rise of the Ottoman Empire was first published by the Royal Asiatic Society in 1938 and has been out of print for more than a quarter of a century. The present reissue of the text also brings together translations of some of his other studies on Ottoman history; eight closely interconnected writings on the period from the founding of the state to the Fall of Constantinople and the reign of Mehmed II. Most of these pieces reproduces the texts of lectures or conference papers delivered by Wittek between 1936 and 1938 when he was teaching at Université Libré in Brussels, Belgium. The books or journals in which they were originally published are for the most part inaccessible except in specialist libraries, in a period when Wittek's activities as an Ottoman historian, in particular his formulations regarding the origins and subsequent history of the Ottoman state (the "Ghazi thesis"), are coming under increasing study within the Anglo-Saxon world of scholarship.

An introduction by Colin Heywood sets Wittek's work in its historical and historiographical context for the benefit of those students who were not privileged to experience it firsthand. This reissue and recontextualizing of Wittek’s pioneering work on early Ottoman history makes a valuable contribution to the field and to the historiography of Asian and Middle Eastern history generally.

We have selected a number of books relevant to the Arab Spring, including titles from the topical Contemporary Middle East Series.

View the selection here.

Since late 2010 much of the world’s attention has been focused on events as they have developed across the Arab world – a wave of demonstrations, protests and revolutions that in its earliest phase came to be known as the Arab Spring.

Browse our selection of key titles relevant to the Arab Spring below.

Relevant Journal articles have also been selected for you to view - The present collection of academic articles and analysis represents a selection of the early scholarly responses to the events of the Arab Spring. Content has been selected from across our Area Studies and Politics and International Relations portfolios. Click here to view this content.

Routledge would like to extend our congratulations to Gregor Schoeler, whose book The Biography of Muhammad: Nature and Authenticity (edited by Professor James Montgomery and translated by Uwe Vagelpohl) has been awarded a World Prize for the Book of the Year for Islamic Studies by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran's Vahdat Hall hosted the 19th edition of World Prize for the Book of the Year of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. Please click here for the complete list of winners via the Iran Book News Agency.

This book considers the Arabic biographies of Prophet Muhammad, the earliest of which dates from two centuries after his life. These biographies, prized by Muslims, have been approached in the Western study of Islam from a range of positions. Some scholars reject them entirely, seeing in them products of the Muslim community’s idealisation of its history, while others accept them at face value, reasoning that, if not exact versions of events, the events could not have differed too much from their descriptions.

Routledge is pleased to offer you our latest Middle East and Islamic Studies catalogue online!

Learn more about our latest books in:

• General Middle East Studies
• Iranian Studies
• Politics and International Relations
• Military and Security Studies
• Business and Economics
• Culture and Society
• History
• Language and Literature
• Jewish Studies
• Islamic Studies

If you prefer a hardcopy, please send us a request.