The Kurds, one of the oldest ethnic groups in the Middle East, are reasserting their identity-politically and through violence. Divided mainly among Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, the Kurds have posed increasingly sharp challenges to all of these states in their quest for greater autonomy if not outright independence. Turkey's essentially democratic structure and civil society_ideal tools for coping with and incorporating minority challenge_have so far been suspended on this issue, which the government is treating almost exclusively as a security problem to be dealt with by force. For the West the situation in Turkey is particularly significant because of the country's importance in the region and because of the economic, political, and diplomatic damage that the conflict has caused. If Turkey fails to find a peaceful solution within its current borders, then the outlook is grim for ethnic and separatist challenges elsewhere in the region. This study explores the roots, dimensions, character, and evolution of the problem, offers a range of approaches to a resolution of the conflict, and draws broader parallels between the Kurdish question and other separatist movements worldwide.

This is the first book to examine the Arab Shi'a, a community whose identity and problematic relationship with the rest of the Middle East cuts to the heart of the crisis of Arab politics and society. The Shi'a represent a majority of the population along the Arab coast of the Persian Gulf and are the largest religious group in Lebanon. This book, based on extensive field interviews, examines the nature of Shi'ite belief and community life, contemporary political and social problems, key grievances, and the nature of their relationship with the dominant Sunni state today as they seek a major voice in a new political order.

This is the compelling tale of Luke, a Korean adoptee who comes to an American family at age one and who gradually loses his life's way-to die from crack cocaine at age 21. It is also a story of his adoptive father, a CIA officer, who offers an unsparing and vivid account of his own efforts-wise, misguided, passionate, naive, creative, ultimately unsuccessful-to save his son. Luke is warm, likeable, funny, quick to win friends-and a skilled deceiver, able to impress others with a seeming maturity and urbanity. But the image he works to create for himself is increasingly belied by the darker realities of his life and the black hole he creates around his family. The tale chronicles a poignant and tumultuous quest to grasp the meaning of Luke's life-and death-against a broad international backdrop from Afghanistan to Latin America. It explores the mysteries of adoption, identity, addiction-and grace.

The Middle East in the 21st century has witnessed a game-changing rollercoaster ride that has transformed relationships across the boards. Turkey underwent the most dramatic changes of its democratic history, propelling it into the role of major regional actor. The "Arab Spring" cast the region into political and social turmoil. US-led wars devastated the lands and peoples of several countries with widespread, rippling repercussions. And the balance of global power shifted dramatically, breaking America's long-standing geopolitical dominance in the Middle East. The politics of the Middle East are now up for grabs-but what are the sources of its future leadership? The Arab world is still adrift. Yet there are grounds for optimism that Iran may at last be re-emerging onto the world scene as a legitimate and influential actor. And above all, Turkey's experience, despite messy partisan politics, still offers the only convincing Muslim model of dynamic and effective governance. Neither Turks, Arabs nor Iranians will ever be the same again-nor will they interact with the West again in the old familiar ways. The author breaks with conventional US-centric analysis of the region to capture the deeper political and human forces that reflect the Middle East's own history and culture. *** Praise for A World Without Islam by Graham E. Fuller "Another must-read by one of the most thought-provoking writers on Islam and the Middle East... At once a brilliant history lesson and a fascinating thought experiment..." Reza Aslan, author of No God But God, and Beyond Fundamentalism. "A must read. Graham Fuller's A World Without Islam is a tour de force by one of the world's foremost authorities on global Muslim politics. Fuller's masterful study provides an insightful and at times provocative analysis of the character of Muslim-West relations..." John L. Esposito, author of The Future of Islam.

This is the first book to examine the Arab Shi'a community, a group whose identity and problematic relationship with the rest of the Middle East cuts to the heart of the crisis of Arab politics and society. From southern Iraq and along the coast of the Persian Gulf, the Arab Shi'a are concentrated in the strategic Gulf region; they form majorities in Iraq and Bahrain and they are the largest religious group in Lebanon. Historically there have been major tensions between the Shi'a and Sunni communities. This book, based on extensive field interviews, examines the nature of Shi'ite belief and community life, contemporary political and social problems, key grievances, and the nature of their relationship with the dominant Sunni state today as they seek a major voice in a new political order. Political and social integration of the Shi'a is a key to orderly political evolution in the Gulf in the next century.

What if Islam never existed? To some, it's a comforting thought: no clash of civilizations, no holy wars, no terrorists. But what if that weren't the case at all? In A WORLD WITHOUT ISLAM, Graham E. Fuller guides us along an illuminating journey through history, geopolitics, and religion to investigate whether or not Islam is indeed the cause of some of today's most emotional and important international crises. Fuller takes us from the birth of Islam to the fall of Rome to the rise and collapse of the Ottoman Empire. He examines and analyzes the roots of terrorism, the conflict in Israel, and the role of Islam in supporting and energizing the anti-imperial struggle. Provocatively, he finds that contrary to the claims of many politicians, thinkers, theologians, and soldiers, a world without Islam might not look vastly different from what we know today. Filled with fascinating details and counterintuitive conclusions, A WORLD WITHOUT ISLAM is certain to inspire debate and reshape the way we think about Islam's relationship with the West.