Shifting Sands: The Unraveling of the Old Order in the Middle East - Softcover

Shehada, Raja (ed.)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 156656056X ISBN 13: 9781566560566

Publisher: Olive Branch Press, 2016

Synopsis

At a time when the Middle East dominates media headlines more than ever-and for reasons that become ever more heartbreaking-Shifting Sands brings together fifteen impassioned and informed voices to talk about a region with unlimited potential, and yet which can feel, as one writer puts it, as though the world around me is on fire?

This collection has as its framing event the Sykes-Picot agreement, which marks its centenary this year. The British diplomat Mark Sykes and his French counterpart Francois George-Picot wanted to divide most of the Middle East into British and French zones of influence. The accord that they secretly signed in 1916 invented the modern Middle East and planted the seeds for many of its current woes.

Collecting together the thoughts and insights of writers who live or have deep roots in there, Shifting Sands takes a look at aspects of the Middle East from the catastrophic long-term effects of the carving up of the region by the colonial powers after World War One to the hopes and struggles of the Arab spring in relation to Egypt, Iran and Syria. And it asks questions such as: what is it like to be a writer in the Middle East? What does the future hold? And where do we go from here?

For all those who are wearied by the debates surrounding the Middle East often at best ill-informed and at worst, defeatist propaganda this intelligent, reasoned perspective on life in the Middle East is a breath of fresh air.

Contributors include: James Barr, Avi Shlaim, Salim Tamari, Ramita Navai, Dawn Chatty, Robin Yassin-Kassab, Malu Halasa, Marilyn Booth, Mai Al-Nakib, Selma Dabbagh, Tamim Al Barghouti, Justin Marozzi, Alev Scott, and Khaled Fahmy

About this title

From the Back Cover

A fresh look at the Middle East today, tomorrow, and in the past: fifteen writers, with an introduction by Raja Shehadeh, author of the Orwell Prize-winning Palestinian Walks, and Penny Johnson. At a time when the Middle East dominates media headlines more than ever?and for reasons that become ever more heartbreaking?Shifting Sands brings together fifteen impassioned and informed voices to talk about a region with unlimited potential, and yet which can feel, as one writer puts it, ?as though the world around me is on fire?? This collection has as its framing event the Sykes-Picot agreement, which marks its centenary this year. The British diplomat Mark Sykes and his French counterpart Francois George-Picot wanted to divide most of the Middle East into British and French zones of influence. The accord that they secretly signed in 1916 invented the modern Middle East and planted the seeds for many of its current woes. For all those who are wearied by the debates surrounding the Middle East?often at best ill-informed and at worst, defeatist propaganda?this intelligent, reasoned perspective on life in the Middle East is a breath of fresh air. Contributors include: James Barr, Avi Shlaim, Salim Tamari, Ramita Navai, Dawn Chatty, Robin Yassin-Kassab, Malu Halasa, Marilyn Booth, Mai Al-Nakib, Selma Dabbagh, Tamim Al Barghouti, Justin Marozzi, Alev Scott, and Khaled Fahmy

About the Author

Raja Shehadeh is Palestine's leading writer. He is also a lawyer and the founder of the pioneering Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq. Shehadeh is the author of several acclaimed books including Strangers in the House and Occupation Diaries and winner of the 2008 Orwell Prize for Palestinian Walks. He lives in Ramallah in Palestine.

Penny Johnson is an academic at Birzeit University in Ramallah. She has published articles and edited a number of important books on Palestine, including Seeking Palestine: New Palestinian Writing on Exile and Home.

About this edition

• Publisher: Olive Branch Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 156656056X
• ISBN 13: 9781566560566
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208
• Editor: Johnson Penny (ed.)