An essential guide to one of the world's most turbulent regions
Understand the Middle East (since 1945) examines the origins and development of the events which have dominated the headlines for the last six decades. Covering everything from religion and politics in the aftermath of the Second World War to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, war in Iraq and the terrorism of the present day it will change the way you think about the region.

Understand the Middle East (since 1945) includes:

Chapter 1: The crossroads of the world
What is the Middle East?
The geography of the Middle East
Peoples and Societies
Religion

Chapter 2: States and mandates: Middle Eastern politics to the end of the Second World War
Ottoman collapse
Three agreements
The Arabian peninsula
Iran
Egypt
Iraq
Syria, Lebanon and Transjordan

Chapter 3: The promised land
Palestine
Zion
The British mandate
The state of Israel

Chapter 4: Gamal Abdul Nasser
The First Arab-Israeli war
A region of instability
Nasser
The Suez crisis

Chapter 5: War to war
The Suez war
The consequences of Suez
Between the wars
The Palestinians
The path to war

Chapter 6: Divisions and developments 1967-73
The Six Day War
The consequences of war
Enter Sadat and Assad
Palestine militant
Sadat's patience runs out
The Fourth Arab-Israeli War
The oil weapon

Chapter 7: Lebanon bleeds
Uneasy peace
Civil war
Israeli intervention
Israeli invasion
Towards settlement
Chapter 8: Camp David
'We can negotiate'
Shuttle diplomacy
A moment in history
Camp David

Chapter 9: Revolution and war
King of Kings
The Iranian Revolution
The rise of Saddam Hussein

Chapter 10: Intifada
Fruitless negotiation
The Palestinians
Intifada
The state of Palestine
Hopes of settlement

Chapter 11: Desert Storm
Saddam bankrupt
Operation Desert Shield
Operation Desert Storm
Repercussions and revolts

Chapter 12: The 1990s: Searching for settlement
Instability, religion and power
The Declaration of Principles
Struggling for peace
A broader peace
The peace process crumbles
The Second Intifada

Chapter 13: Decision time: 9/11 and the Arab world
The Middle East in 2001
9/11 and America's War on Terror
A new millennium: 1. Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria
A new millennium: 2. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf

Chapter 14: Tragedy and intransigence: Iraq and Iran in the new millennium
Insurgency and democracy
Towards settlement
Twenty-first-century Iran

Chapter 15: Israel-Palestine in the new century
New century, old problems
Peace plans and disengagement
Olmert, Abbas and Hamas
More jaw, more war
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Learn effortlessly with a new easy-to-read page design and interactive features:

Not got much time?
One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started.

Author insights
Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience.

Test yourself
Tests in the book and online to keep track of your progress.

Extend your knowledge
Extra online articles to give you a richer understanding of the subject.

Five things to remember
Quick refreshers to help you remember the key facts.

Try this
Innovative exercises illustrate what you've learnt and how to use it.