Middle East Patterns: Places, Peoples, And Politics, Second Edition

Despite the critical importance of the Middle East in U.S. and world affairs, Middle East Patterns continues to be the only comprehensive regional study of the area written by a U.S. geographer since 1960. This second edition retains the basic framework of its 1989 predecessor, examining the Middle East from a topical perspective and then from a regional, country-by-country viewpoint. A thoughtful consideration of the physical environment lays the groundwork for emphasis on cultural-political and geopolitical patterns, which are the essence of the study.This completely updated edition includes 55 new photographs that have been added to 40 photographs retained from the earlier work. Several fascinating then and now” photo pairs dramatically illustrate the development that has taken place in recent decades. Like the tables and graphs, the 61 thematic and regional maps were all especially created for the book: they have all been updated and are consistently styled, cleanly formatted, and easy to read.An ideal midlevel text for courses in regional geography of the Middle East, the book is also valuable for courses in Middle East history, politics, comparative government, and economics. Its lively style makes the book an essential resource as well for specialists and general readers interested in the area. Those working in the Middle East with oil companies, other commercial organizations, and government agencies will find it especially informative.