The New Middle East
The World After the Arab Spring
ISBN10: 1408870177
ISBN13: 9781408870174
Paperback
496 Pages
$18.00
CA$24.00
In 2011, the Arab revolts changed the Middle East forever. The toppling of a generation of dictators left the region in turmoil. Has the promise of the Arab Spring been lost? What does the rise of religious extremism on Europe's doorstep mean for the West and its allies? Is America giving up on the region and, if so, who will lead the new Middle East?
Drawing on compelling first-hand reporting, a deep knowledge of the region's history and access to many of the key players, BBC Bureau Chief Paul Danahar lays bare the forces that are shaping the region.
Reviews
Praise for The New Middle East
“Danahar weaves a complex narrative into a lively, accessible read, much of which should withstand the passage of time . . . A solid but easygoing compendium for anyone who wants a read beyond the headlines, done with a journalistic lightness of touch.”—Daily Telegraph
“The optimistic take on the Arab revolution, though, is that the coups and massacres are part of a messy process that will eventually lead to more democratically responsive societies. This argument threads its way through Danahar's remarkable analysis of the Arab Spring . . . This is a book that tries to engage with people who can speak for everyone in the Spring, from Brotherhood activists . . . to Israeli and Egyptian generals. It is written in a spirit of adventure . . . And is all the better for it.”—The Times
“He reports perceptively on the internal contradictions of the Jewish state, from militant settlers to the ultraorthodox Haredim.”—The Guardian
“A timely exploration of an unstable region still on the brink of change and revolution.”—Traveller
“Are you confused by the welter in the Middle East, headlines crowded with revolution and coup, Islamism, civil war and resurgent jihad? May I recommend Paul Danahar's excellent regional survey, The New Middle East: The World After the Arab Spring? Danahar is the BBC's Middle East bureau chief, experienced and clear eyed. His style is crisp and elegant, equally adept at telling human portraits as interviewing generals and presidents and sketching historical context . . . The events of the Arab Spring and its aftermath will continue to defy prediction; but in the meantime, it's worth reading Danahar to take stock of some of the geopolitical tectonic shifts and the forces that are remaking our old assumptions.”—Prospect