The Changing Middle East

Korany (international relations and political economy, American U. in Cairo, Egypt) presents a volume comprising eight chapters which seek to balance disproportionately common, continuity-focused analyses of the Middle East with examinations of elements of change in the region. An analytic framework distinguishing between cumulative and sudden change is offered in the first chapter, followed by investigations of topics ranging from the emerging impact of communications media and the Internet on the region, to critical perspectives on the status of women in the Arab world. The deradicalization of Islamist movements in Egypt and Algeria is explored, and a comparative analysis of Hamas and Hezbollah is provided. Tabulated demographic, economic, and political data for 26 Middle Eastern states, covering years 1998-2009, are included in an appendix. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

BAHGAT KORANY is professor of international relations and political economy at the American University in Cairo, and director of the AUC Forum. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1994.