'The Times' Guide to the Middle East

The Middle East has been a flash-point in world affairs since the end of World War II. Though Cold War politics may no longer dominate its agenda and the threat of war between Arabs and Jews has receded, it remians among the world's most troubled and unstable regions. In chapters on every country in the Middle East, this guide presents an overview of the region, pinpointing its recent history and highlighting the immense problems facing it today. Further chapters look at the role of oil, the Palestinian question and the rise of fundamentalism.