The Old Social Classes and the Revolutionary Movements of Iraq: A Study of Iraq's Old Landed and Commercial Classes and of Its Communists, Ba'thists and Free Officers

(Paperback, New edition)

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Description

The late Hanna Batatu's landmark study of Iraq's social formation during the twentieth century is widely regarded as one of the most significant works of recent times dealing with Middle Eastern society and politics. Actually three volumes in one, it is one of the few books to have received the distinction of having an entire conference held to discuss its implications, at the University of Texas at Austin in March 1989. Now back in print, this classic work has assumed a new significance in light of Iraq's recent history.

Reviews

'An indispensable foundation for any thoughts regarding the creation of a new Iraqi political order.' L. Bushkoff, Christian Science Monitor 'Western firms will be reaching for a copy of The Old Social Classes' Independent on Sunday (08/02/04) 'No serious study of the modern history of Iraq can be undertaken without a period of immersion in Hanna Batutu's The Old Social Classes ...' Democratiya '... by far the best book written on the social and political history of modern Iraq.' Ahmad Dallal, Associate Professor of Middle Eastern History at Stanford University 'A landmark in Middle Eastern historical study ... it will be imitated, confronted, argued about, banned - and perhaps even burned - as no other book written on the region in the recent period.' Roger Owen, International Journal of Middle Eastern Studies 'an inspired and inspiring book, a work of passionate commitment and profound scholarship.' Arab Studies Quarterly

Author Bio

Hanna Batatu was born in 1926 in Jerusalem. He immigrated to the United States in 1948, receiving his PhD from Harvard University in 1960. Apart from research fellowships at Harvard, MIT, and Princeton, Batatu held two major teaching appointments: at the American University of Beirut (1962-81), and at Georgetown University (1982-94), where he was named Professor Emeritus upon retirement. He died in 2000.