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The second edition of this well-regarded volume explores the societies of the Middle East and North Africa. Presenting original studies written by the world's leading MENA scholars, it sheds light upon the organizing structures, human vulnerabilities, and dynamic forces that propel social change among the peoples of the Arab world, as well as Israel, Turkey, and Iran. The volume can be used in conjunction with The Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa textbook for a comprehensive overview of the region.
Carrying over from the previous edition, among the rich topics covered are agriculture, urbanization, development, identity, citizenship, gender, religion, civil society, the environment, and youths. This second edition adds two new chapters on refugees and public opinion, as each constitutes a crucial part of the region's social and cultural context. This edition also updates existing chapters to account for the latest events and trends, including the COVID-19 pandemic, popular protests, and demographic growth.
Written in an accessible way, the chapters are clearly structured and contain insightful analysis, memorable case studies, illustrative photographs, and visualized data that illuminate the contours of social life across this diverse region. Each chapter also ends with curated questions for discussion, followed by annotated bibliographies to help spark further research to encourage seamless adoption into classrooms.
List of contents
1. Bringing Society Back In Sean Yom Part I: Societal Structures 2. Social Life, from Rural to Urban Rachel Bahn, Tariq Tell, and Rami Zurayk 3. Social Mobilization and Civil Society Vincent Durac 4. Identities, Their Power and Pull P.R. Kumaraswamy Part II: Societal Vulnerabilities 5. Economic Development: Bread, Jobs, and Beyond Bessma Momani 6. Social and Cultural Legacies of Rentierism Hae Won Jeong 7. The Nexus of Environment, Climate, Conflict, and Security Mohamad Behnassi 8. Understanding Refugees Rawan Arar Part III: Societal Forces 9. Religion and Faith Ramazan Kilinc 10. Women and Gender Lindsay J. Benstead 11. The Youth Generation Sean Yom 12. Public Opinion and Attitudes Bethany Shockley
About the author
Sean Yom is Associate Professor of Political Science at Temple University, USA and Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, USA. He is a widely published expert on regimes and development in the Middle East and North Africa and regularly travels to the region for research.
Summary
The second edition presenting original studies written by the world’s leading MENA scholars, the book sheds light upon the organizing structures, human vulnerabilities, and dynamic forces that propel social change among the peoples of the Arab world, as well as Israel, Turkey, and Iran.
