This volume tells the whole story of Islam
- its origins, doctrines & world-wide political dimension. From Muhammad's proclamation
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Philip Robins` survey of Jordan`s political history begins in the early 1920s, continues through the years of the British Mandate, & traces events over the next half-century to the present day. Throughout the period, the country`s fortunes were closely identified with its head of state, King Hussein, until his death in 1999. In the early days, as the author testifies, the King`s prospects were often regarded as grim. However, both King & country survived a variety of existential challenges, from assassination attempts & internal subversion, to a civil war with the Palestine Liberation Organisation &, in the 1970s & 1980s, it emerged as an apparently stable & prosperous state. However, King Hussein`s death, the succession of his son, Abdullah II, & recent political upheavals have plunged the country back into uncertainty. This is an incisive account, compellingly told, about one of the leading players in the Middle East. ...

Although Indonesia has the fourth largest population in the world, its history is still relatively unfamiliar & understudied. Guided by the life & writings of the country's most famous author, Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Adrian Vickers takes the reader on a journey across the social & political landscape of twentieth-century Indonesia in this innovative & timely account. He begins by explaining the country's origins under the Dutch in the early part of that century, the subsequent anti-colonial struggle & revolution which led to independence in 1949. Thereafter the spotlight is on the 1950s, a crucial period in the formation of Indonesia as a new nation, which was followed by the Sukarno years, & the anti-communist massacres of the 1960s when General Suharto took over as president. The concluding chapters chart the fall of Suharto's New Order after thirty two years in power, & the subsequent political & religious turmoil which culminated in the Bali bombings in 2002. Drawing on insights from literature, art & anthropology, Adrian Vickers portrays a complex & resilient people borne out of a troubled past. ...

Since the Bali bombings of 2002 & the rise of political Islam, Indonesia has frequently occupied media headlines. Nevertheless, the history of the fourth largest country on earth remains relatively unknown. Adrian Vickers` book, first published in 2005, traces the history of an island country, comprising some 240 million people, from the colonial period through revolution & independence to the present. Framed around the life story of Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Indonesia`s most famous & controversial novelist & playwright, the book journeys through the social & cultural mores of Indonesian society, focusing on the experiences of ordinary people. In this new edition, the author brings the story up to date, revisiting his argument as to why Indonesia has yet to realise its potential as a democratic country. He also examines the rise of fundamentalist Islam, which has haunted Indonesia since the fall of Suharto. ...

Libya is coming in from the cold, but for most of the three decades following the 1969 revolution, the country was labelled a pariah state by the West. Dirk Vandewalle, one of only a handful of western scholars to visit during the time, is intimately acquainted with the country. This history
- based on original research & his interviews with Libya's political elite
- offers a lucid account of Libya's past, & corrects some of the misunderstandings about its present. The author takes the story from the 1900s, through the Italian occupation, the Sanusi monarchy & Qadhafi's self-styled revolution. The final chapter is devoted to the events which brought Libya back into the international fold. As the first comprehensive history of Libya over the last two decades, this book will be welcomed by students of the region, professionals & those who are visiting Libya for the first time.

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Robert Service's The Penguin History of Modern Russia: From Tsarism to the Twenty-first Century provides a superb panorama ...

Kenneth Perkins' book, which was the first English-language history of modern Tunisia, traces its story from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day. The years from 1881 saw the inauguration of French colonial rule, the creation of the nationalist movement &, finally, independence in 1956. Perkins examines the problems that were created by colonialism, & the measures undertaken to achieve independence. He then describes the subsequent process of state-building, including the design of political & economic structures & the promotion of a social & cultural agenda. In conclusion, he reviews the years since 1987, when a new regime came to power with promises of correcting the most widely perceived faults of its predecessor. Perkins' readable & informed introduction will be a necessity for students of the region, & also for anyone travelling there who wants a more comprehensive approach than most guide books can offer. ...

Nepal emerged as a unified state over two hundred years ago, centred on the Kathmandu Valley with its two thousand years of urban civilisation. While John Whelpton`s history focuses on the period since the overthrow of the Rana family autocracy in 1950-51, the early chapters are devoted to the origins of the kingdom & the evolving relations of its diverse peoples. By drawing on research on Nepal`s environment, society & political institutions, the author portrays a country of extraordinary contrasts, which has been constantly buffeted by its neighbours, the two Asian giants, China & India. Economic & political turmoil over the last fifty years came to a climax in the massacre of the royal family in 2001, when the country erupted into civil war. The book is comprehensive & its accessible approach will appeal to students, professionals & those visiting the region. ...

This survey of Ottoman architecture treats the subject chronologically & within its historical perspective, making reference to Byzantine, Persian & Selcuk examples. There is a discussion of the effects of conquests, religions & social organization, & alongside the descriptions of mosques are studies of the layout & function of the buildings which came to be grouped around the mosques
- schools, baths, hostels, kitchens, fountains, mausolea, & shops. Seeking to appeal to those interested in Islamic art as well as architectural history, buildings are described with a minimum of technical terminology. A glossary of Turkish words is provided & there is a chronological table listing Ottoman rulers & historical events.
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This updated edition analyses the challenges, both internal & external, facing Saudi Arabia in the twenty-first century. Two new chapters discuss the political, economic & social developments in the aftermath of 9/11, painting a vivid picture of a country shocked by terrorism & condemned by the international community. Madawi Al-Rasheed reveals that fragmentation of royal politics, a failing economy & fermenting Islamist dissent posed serious threats to state & society in 2001. She assesses the consequent state reforms introduced under pressure of terrorism, international scrutiny & a social mobilisation of men, women & minorities struggling to shape their future against a background of repression & authoritarian rule. While Saudi Arabia is still far from establishing a fourth state, there are signs that the people are ready for a serious change that will lead them to a state of institutions rather than princes. ...