The Middle East, as we know it today, was shaped in the violent and tumultuous years of the first half of the 20th century. The roots of many of the conflicts and crises which afflict the region today can be traced back to this period of wars, high drama and the cavalier re-drawing of maps. Patrick Seale, a leading historian of the region, tells the story of the making of the modern Middle East through the life of Riad el-Solh, a Lebanese politician who grew into the outstanding Arab statesman of his time. Based on British and French archives, and on numerous interviews, the book pieces together the history of the Arab struggle for independence through the lives of those most directly involved. It is an invaluable resource for students and researchers, and of compelling interest to anyone who wants to know more about the Middle East.

While Ba'thi Syria is often considered the last bastion of Arab socialism, Asad's regime has introduced sweeping economic change over the last decade. Gradual and discreet in the mid-1980's, economic reform quickly gained momentum. The easing of political repression and Syria's participation in the Arab-Israeli peace process have also been highly significant. Through analyzing the complex relationship between processes of economic and political liberalization in the domestic arena - and their repercussions internationally - the contributors to the book develop possible scenarios of the future development of Syria and its role in the Middle East.

'This is a book in the finest tradition of investigative scholarship. The research is awesome...Seale's great strength is his ability to explain the confusing kaleidoscopic nature of Middle Eastern diplomacy. He understands the game being played and also knows the players...[An] impressive book' - "Los Angeles Times Book Review".