Untangling the Middle East: A Guide to the Past, Present, and Future of the World's Most Chaotic Region

(Hardback)

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Untangling the Middle Eastis a layman's guide to the historypolitical, religious, and culturalthat led us to the current challenges plaguing the Middle East. It covers the major interests and actors in the region, from Israel to ISIS, and helps to spin a narrative of the evolution of violence and conflict in this age-old hotbed of unrest.

Reviews

"Ori Soltes gives the reader a fair, clear-eyed tour dhorizon of todays Middle East. He roots the regions essentially permanent troubles in its ancient sectarian divisions and its modern inability to form durable, popular, successful states. After 100 years and the disappointments of Nasser, Saddam, and Assad, the Arabs have yet to create such a state. Only the non-Arab peoplesIran, Turkey, and Israelhave succeeded, but at a pitiably high cost in resources and regional good will. The road forward will be as bumpy as the road behind, and Soltes provides a brisk, readable guide."
Geoffrey Wawro, author of Quicksand: Americas Pursuit of Power in the Middle East
"Ori Soltes gives the reader a fair, clear-eyed tour dhorizon of todays Middle East. He roots the regions essentially permanent troubles in its ancient sectarian divisions and its modern inability to form durable, popular, successful states. After 100 years and the disappointments of Nasser, Saddam, and Assad, the Arabs have yet to create such a state. Only the non-Arab peoplesIran, Turkey, and Israelhave succeeded, but at a pitiably high cost in resources and regional good will. The road forward will be as bumpy as the road behind, and Soltes provides a brisk, readable guide."
Geoffrey Wawro, author of Quicksand: Americas Pursuit of Power in the Middle East

Author Bio

Ori Z. Soltes is a Professor of theology, art history, philosophy, and politics in the School fo Foreign Service's Center for Jewish Civilization at Georgetown University and is a regular lecturer at the Smithsonian Institution. He is the editor-in-chief of the Shengold Jewish Encyclopedia online and the former chief curator of the Bnai Brith Klutznick National Jewish Museum. He currently lives in Bethesda, Maryland.