Contested Lands: A History of the Middle East since the First World War

by T.G. Fraser

A history of the last century of tensions in the Middle East.

Until the First World War, the Ottoman Empire had dominated the Middle East for four centuries. Its collapse, coupled with the subsequent clash of European imperial policies, unleashed a surge of political feeling among the people of the Middle East as they vied for national self-determination. Over the century that followed, the region has become almost synonymous with unrest and conflict.
​
An accessible survey of the last century, Contested Lands tells the story of what happened in the Middle East and what it means today. T. G. Fraser analyzes the fault lines of the tension, including the damage brought by imperialism, the creation of the State of Israel, competition between secular rulers and emerging democratic and theocratic forces, and the rise of Arab Nationalism in the face of fraying regional alliances and the Islamic revival. Fraser offers a close look at how the events of the twenty-first century—the tragedy of 9/11, the Arab Spring, and Syria’s civil war—have combined with complex social and economic changes to transform the region. Untangling the history of the Middle East, this book offers a detailed and insightful picture of the region and why its heritage remains important today.

Genres: History

288 pages, Hardcover

Published November 17, 2021

About the author

T.G. Fraser is Professor Emeritus at Ulster University, and is also a fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Royal Society of Arts, and the Royal Asiatic Society.

Reviews

[Rich Pitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard going, assumes a fair bit of knowledge, that I didn’t have. However, glad I stuck with it. Desperate cycles of conflict, suspicion and pain. Important reading. Moments beyond belief of how close peace Clinton came to enabling a peace agreement. But no. And Britain’s role - even in a fairly pro Britain book - in “declaring” borders, and who has what rights, makes me wince, and beggars belief. For my Iraqi friends, Egyptian friends, Syrian friends and Iranian friends, i want to learn more.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fraser is a State bureaucrat who has packed his bags and he is ready to be sent on high commissions to ”solve” the problems over there, as ”an expert”. Never mind that the people who are bringing peace are weapons dealers making a good living for every buddy at home out of selling death. Fraser just wants to be one of them.

[Riley Rabuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great reference guide on the topic, although it reads like something somewhere between a history textbook and the spark notes written about that same history textbook. I gained some good information from it, but it was pretty boring at times to get that info.

[charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

really informative & digestible (read for work)