As the leaders of a revolutionary, nationalist regime, the Egyptian Free Officers who came to power following the 1952 Revolution committed themselves to the attainment of goals associated with modernization, namely rapid economic development based on State planning and industrialization and the political mobilization of society along State-decreed lines. Arising from a conference held at the Centre of Middle Eastern Studies at SOAS, with contributions from scholars from the Arab world, Europe and the US as well as the UK, these papers raise the questions most important to students of economic and political development.

The first major political biography of General Ioannis Metaxas, who assumed dictatorial power in Greece in 1936 and oversaw the resistance to the Italian invasion in the Second World War. As a political portrait of the man, the book puts much emphasis on the early career of Metaxas and his journey to state power, from 1920 to 1936. Drawing heavily on original Greek sources, the book makes extensive use of Metaxa's diary, his correspondence, and the evidence of his close friends and associates.

First published in 1978 Nasser and His Generation is one of the most important books on modern Egyptian history. It goes much further than a simple history of the Nasser regime or a psychobiography of the Egyptian ruler. It examines his personality, attitudes and beliefs and how these were informed or acquired and seeks to explain what and who he was. But it also considers Nasser to be a representative of a generation of Egyptians, many of whom rode on his bandwagon to power, serve him, and then more or less promptly forgot him. The first two parts set the scene for the emergence of the military regime, highlighting the disintegration of the old political order which the Free Officers overthrew in 1952. Part Three deals with Nasser in his several capacities as absolute ruler of Egypt and his relations with Arabs, Israel and the rest of the world. Part Four provides a depiction of Nasser as the absolute ruler and Part Five attempts a general assessment of Nasser's personality and his impact on Egypt. Based on archival sources and extensive interviews with many of his associates, closest members of his family and his deepest enemies, this volume is a must read for any student of political history, African studies, Middle East studies and political science.

Examining the theoretical problems which arose when the modern European ideology of nationalism was adopted by Muslim societies organized into formally modern states, this book, first published in 1987, also deals with the practical difficulties arising from the doctrinal incompatibility between Islam and the non-Muslim concept of the territorial nation-state. It illustrates this conflict with a consideration of the record of several states in the Islamic world. It suggests that whereas the state, an organization of power, has been a most durable institution in Islamic history, the legitimacy of the nation-state has always been challenged in favour of the wide Islamic Nation, the "umma", which comprises all the faithful without reference to territorial boundaries. To this extent too, the more recent conception of Arab nationalism projects a far larger nation-state than the existing territorial states in the Arab world today. This title will be of interest to students of Middle Eastern studies.

The Middle East is a continuing crisis area in world politics. This crisp and penetrating book, first published in 1971, analyses the historical development of the major issues in Arab politics, explains the conflicting interests now at stake in the Middle East and how the politics of the area were likely to develop. It examines, among other topics, the Palestine Liberation Movement, the prospects for Arab unity, and Great Power interference, and was written by one of the world's leading scholars writing on the Middle East.

Examining the theoretical problems which arose when the modern European ideology of nationalism was adopted by Muslim societies organized into formally modern states, this book, first published in 1987, also deals with the practical difficulties arising from the doctrinal incompatibility between Islam and the non-Muslim concept of the territorial nation-state. It illustrates this conflict with a consideration of the record of several states in the Islamic world. It suggests that whereas the state, an organization of power, has been a most durable institution in Islamic history, the legitimacy of the nation-state has always been challenged in favour of the wide Islamic Nation, the "umma", which comprises all the faithful without reference to territorial boundaries. To this extent too, the more recent conception of Arab nationalism projects a far larger nation-state than the existing territorial states in the Arab world today. This title will be of interest to students of Middle Eastern studies.

What does revolution mean in the Middle East? Can the Middle East experience be compared with revolution in China, Latin America and East Europe? These questions are the focus of this book, first published in 1972, which examines the revolutionary significance of the major economic, social and political changes in the Middle East over the last fifty years. The special feature is the consideration of the changing connotation of the word 'revolution' and a recognition of a certain continuity in the political style of Middle Eastern societies which limits the use of the term in analysing the political change.

Amidst the turmoil in the Middle East, Jordan has presented a striking example of relative stability, and in this study, first published in 1967, Professor Vatikiotis sets out to show just how far Jordan's stability depends on its army. The Jordan Arab Army, for long better known as the Arab Legion, was one of the best small fighting forces in the Middle East. Raised in 1921 by the late King Abdullah, the legion helped him to pacify the tribes and establish and extend his rule and authority over a fractious society in a region of vast desert expanses. The Legion then expanded into a disciplined military institution, but whereas the armies of several Arab states were involved in coups, the Jordan Arab Army has no such record. In this book, the author examines the particular historical conditions from which a state emerged in Jordan, and the role of the Arab Legion in its creation and consolidation.

The first major political biography of General Ioannis Metaxas, who assumed dictatorial power in Greece in 1936 and oversaw the resistance to the Italian invasion in the Second World War. As a political portrait of the man, the book puts much emphasis on the early career of Metaxas and his journey to state power, from 1920 to 1936. Drawing heavily on original Greek sources, the book makes extensive use of Metaxa's diary, his correspondence, and the evidence of his close friends and associates.

Amidst the turmoil in the Middle East, Jordan has presented a striking example of relative stability, and in this study, first published in 1967, Professor Vatikiotis sets out to show just how far Jordan's stability depends on its army. The Jordan Arab Army, for long better known as the Arab Legion, was one of the best small fighting forces in the Middle East. Raised in 1921 by the late King Abdullah, the legion helped him to pacify the tribes and establish and extend his rule and authority over a fractious society in a region of vast desert expanses. The Legion then expanded into a disciplined military institution, but whereas the armies of several Arab states were involved in coups, the Jordan Arab Army has no such record. In this book, the author examines the particular historical conditions from which a state emerged in Jordan, and the role of the Arab Legion in its creation and consolidation.

What does revolution mean in the Middle East? Can the Middle East experience be compared with revolution in China, Latin America and East Europe? These questions are the focus of this book, first published in 1972, which examines the revolutionary significance of the major economic, social and political changes in the Middle East over the last fifty years. The special feature is the consideration of the changing connotation of the word 'revolution' and a recognition of a certain continuity in the political style of Middle Eastern societies which limits the use of the term in analysing the political change.

The Middle East is a continuing crisis area in world politics. This crisp and penetrating book, first published in 1971, analyses the historical development of the major issues in Arab politics, explains the conflicting interests now at stake in the Middle East and how the politics of the area were likely to develop. It examines, among other topics, the Palestine Liberation Movement, the prospects for Arab unity, and Great Power interference, and was written by one of the world's leading scholars writing on the Middle East.

Three main themes are explored in this book, first published in 1984: the first is the problem of religion and politics as a major and long-standing preoccupation of Middle-easterners or Arab Muslims themselves; the second is that of the conflict-ridden inter-Arab and regional politics, approached largely from a local rather than an international perspective; the third deals with Egypt. The book also enquires into the nature of rule and regimes in the Middle East, the basis of authority and the arrangements for the organisation, exercise and use of power. Drawing examples from Egypt and the Fertile Crescent, the emphasis is on the relation between tradition and politics, historical evolution and state policy, domestic factors and external constraints.

Three main themes are explored in this book, first published in 1984: the first is the problem of religion and politics as a major and long-standing preoccupation of Middle-easterners or Arab Muslims themselves; the second is that of the conflict-ridden inter-Arab and regional politics, approached largely from a local rather than an international perspective; the third deals with Egypt. The book also enquires into the nature of rule and regimes in the Middle East, the basis of authority and the arrangements for the organisation, exercise and use of power. Drawing examples from Egypt and the Fertile Crescent, the emphasis is on the relation between tradition and politics, historical evolution and state policy, domestic factors and external constraints.