McNabb, James Brian A Military History of the Modern Middle East (1440829632)

This timely study synthesizes past history with the major military events and dynamics of the 20th- and 21st-century Middle East, helping readers understand the region's present—and look into its future.

The Middle East has been—and will continue to be—a major influence on policy around the globe. This work reviews the impact of past epochs on the modern Middle East and analyzes key military events that contributed to forming the region and its people. By helping readers recognize historical patterns of conflict, the book will stimulate a greater understanding of the Middle East as it exists today.

The work probes cause and effect in major conflicts that include the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the World Wars, the Arab-Israeli wars, and the U.S. wars with Iraq, examining the manner in which military operations have been conducted by both internal and external actors. New regional groups—for example, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)—are addressed, and pertinent events in Afghanistan and Pakistan are scrutinized. Since military affairs are traditionally an extension of politics and economics, the three are considered together in historical context as they relate to war and peace. The book closes with a chapter on the Arab Awakening and its impact on the future balance of power.

• Presents the evolution of combat and military thought in the region from ancient times into the contemporary era, summarizing the impact of the ancient and medieval worlds on the modern Middle East
• Provides a synthesis of Middle Eastern politics, geo-strategy, and military operations
• Discusses key religious and cultural dynamics that have driven events in the region
• Focuses on pivotal moments as catalysts for change in the region
• Examines the nexus between elite interests, factionalism, and the problem of development as it relates to conflict and military decision making