The recent "Arab spring", with its popular uprisings in many Arab countries, has exposed the ambiguity at the heart of American promotion of democracy in the Middle East. The US invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq were packaged as democracy promotion, as heralding the beginning of a new phase in the politics of the Middle East when democracy would replace authoritarian regimes. Many of these authoritarian regimes, however, were sustained by US support. The recent popular uprisings threaten to bring democracy without promotion by the US, and threaten to overthrow regimes previously supported by...

The recent Arab spring, with its popular uprisings in many Arab countries, has exposed the ambiguity at the heart of American promotion of democracy in the Middle East. The US invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq were packaged as democracy promotion, as heralding the beginning of a new phase in the politics of the Middle East when democracy would replace authoritarian regimes. Many of these authoritarian regimes, however, were sustained by US support. The recent popular uprisings threaten to bring democracy without promotion by the US, and threaten to overthrow regimes previously supported by...

Benjamin MacQueen presents an innovative and in-depth look at contemporary conflict resolution in the Arab Middle East, developing a unique theory of political culture through his analysis of peace processes in Lebanon and Algeria. Moving beyond conventional perspectives, Political Culture and Conflict Resolution in the Arab World highlights that while culture can serve as a key to resolving and transforming conflict, if neglected, it can act to worsen the conditions that lead to conflict. This book represents a critical advance in the study of conflict and its resolution in the Arab...

This new edition of An Introduction to Middle East Politics continues to provide an expansive survey of Middle East politics, thoroughly revised and restructured in response to events currently taking place. Written in a lively and accessible manner, MacQueen takes students on a tour of the region's modern political history up to the present, clearly signposting key events and issues.