Michele Penner Angrist

POLITICS AND SOCIETY IN THE CONTEMPORARY MIDDLE EAST appears to be used as a textbook for college Middle Eastern courses. But nonacademic readers should not be put off by that. The book begins with a lengthy introduction about the history of politics in the Middle East. It then examines various influences: government, opposition, the international community, economy, religion, identity, and gender followed by a more in depth analysis of twelve countries ranging from Algeria to Iran. It includes helpful charts and maps about items as varied as civil rights, exports as percentage of GDP, wars, oil, languages and religions, and political parties.
The chapters I read were about Israel and Palestine.
Lukud came to power in 1977 following fifty years of a Labor Zionist government. In addition, a centrist party became part of the government. The change was caused by increased resurgence of ethnicity and nationalist thinking brought about the influx of citizens from Middle Eastern countries. They had lower incomes, comprised about half the electorate and were more strongly anti-Arab and hawkish than the Labor supporters had been They viewed the Labor party as a more privileged elite, saw socialism a more Western and alien and not tied to Jewish tradition. Very outspoken against transferring parts of newly taken areas to a Palestinian state. Before 1967 War, security was the most important axis of Israeli politics. Many conservatives and leftists changed sides when it came to security. Up until then, the religious parties neither were focused on religious issues, not on political ones. After Israel captured land during the Six Day War, the occupied territories, dominated their interests and the religious party became more hawkish. The Arabs demanded basic changes in political system but want to remain part of Israel. The Israelis from Arab countries were very outspoken against transferring parts of newly taken areas to a Palestinian state.
Under British Mandate following the defeat of the Ottomans, Britain was to foster development of the territory for self-government and promote development of Jewish national home and open territory to Jewish immigration. The majority of residents opposed the second part.
In 2006, certain that it would win reelection, Fatah called for new elections. The result was for the first time in Arab history a governing party had lost power through democratic means. Even though it lost the election, Fatah still controlled the presidency and staffed much of the government positions.
Unfortunately for the Palestinians, their political institutions were fragile and untested. In addition, Hamas, the winning party, was rejected internationally because it deliberately killed civilians and refuses to negotiate with Israel. As a result, West Bank and Gaza became two separate entities and instead of a democratic transition, it lead to a political breakdown with neither party seeming to know how to create a functional Palestinian state. They cannot control its own territory or borders or establish financial independence. They receive an enormous amount of international aid. Other Arab countries have failed to recognize Palestinian statehood nor have they done much, if anything, to help the Palestinian people. As a result, many Palestinians feel a deep sense of historical injustice.
They cannot pull off a successful “Arab Spring” uprising because there is not enough energy, organization, or focus compared to counterparts in other Arab states that resulted in change.
There has been what the author calls an increase in religious identity under Hamas. Dress has become more conservative; public consumption of alcohol has declined. He states that Christians, who live in urban areas, are more educated, have lower birthrates, and can find employment abroad, are seeing their population decreasing. Since the book came out, even more Christians are leaving as they and their institutions are being targeted by the Muslim population. The only country not seeing that drop in numbers is in Israel.
Author Michael Penner Angrist presents a good overview of the history of the countries that establishes a base for further study. For example, he mentions how the Palestinians feel a sense of historical injustice but doesn’t explain how the Palestinian leaders have taught them to blame it all on Israel and claim that if Israel and the Jews disappeared, their lives would be wonderful. In reality, the internecine battles and the corruption would still be there.
He also speaks of the relationship with the other Arab countries and how they haven’t recognized an independent Palestine. He doesn’t mention how none of the other Arab countries do not allow Palestinians to become citizens of their countries, even when their families had migrated from there before 1947. And he doesn’t mention how, thanks to UNWRA, the Palestinian people have been refugees for longer than any other people, dependent on foreign aid because they haven’t developed a viable economy.
The book is very well-organized and understandable and presents a very good introduction to the Middle East, what it is like and how it got to be that way . At some point, I would like to read this entire book, but for now I concentrated on just two chapters.… (més)