Issue 7/May 2001 

Editor, Prof. Barry Rubin
Assistant Editors, Cameron Brown, Elisheva Rosman-Stollman.

Please credit if quoting; ask permission to reprint

CONTENTS 

IMPORTANT NEWS: MERIA Journal, Vol. 5, No. 2 (June 2001); UPDATE AND IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR SITE

1. PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST

2. WEBSITES/GROUPS ONLINE

3. FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS TO E-MAIL PUBLICATIONS

4. FUNDING/SCHOLARSHIPS/FELLOWSHIPS/WRITING OPPORTUNITIES

5. RESEARCH QUERIES-PLEASE HELP

6. AUTHOR'S ALERTS (writers report on their books, articles, and activites)

7. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, LECTURES

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS: 

MERIA Journal, Vol. 5, No. 2 (June 2001)

We encourage people to submit articles for MERIA Journal. Our publishing format allows us to expand the number of articles used easily and we are open to your ideas and manuscripts. Remember that we offer you a wider audience for your writings than any other Middle East publication. In addition, articles for MERIA are eligible for inclusion in MERIA's series of published books.

Barry Rubin, "Arab Lessons from the 1991 Kuwait Crisis and War." How did or didn't Arab politics change in the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf war? This essay assesses some of the main issues and considers why key issues did or did not undergo major alterations in the last decade, along with the lessons drawn by various participants and observers in the region.

Armies of the Middle East: We continue our series begun in the March MERIA Journal with two more detailed assessments of Middle Eastern armies, Alexander Bligh, "The Jordanian Army: Between Domestic and External Challenges" and Hillel Frisch, "Guns and Butter in the Egyptian Army."

Turkey: Two articles on Turkey include Efraim Inbar, "Regional Implications of the Israeli-Turkish Strategic Partnership" and Paul Kubicek, "The Earthquake, Europe, and Prospects for Political Change in Turkey." Kubicek analyzes why the 1999 earthquake did not produce the predicted upsurge in power for non-governmental organizations in Turkey.

Yehezkel Shabath, "Hamas: Ideology, Policy, and Strategy" presents a brief history of Hamas with special attention to its relationship with the Palestinian Authority.

As always, all MERIA readers will receive all articles. If you want to receive the issue in adobe/.pdf format in addition to--or instead of--plain text, just let us know.

UPDATE AND IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR SITE

The MERIA site <http://meria.biu.ac.il> has been completely updated and now includes all publications to date. We are working on updating and correcting the link list and hope to have that work finished by June 1. We have also completely reorganized the MERIA Books page, both updating the books and making them available directly on-line. The following previously unavailable articles are now available on-line for the first time: Barry Rubin, "External Influences on Israel's 1996 Election" <http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/meria/books/1996-elections.htm>; Bulent Aras and George K. Foster, "Turkey and the Azerbaijani Oil Controversies"
<http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/meria/books/azerbaijan.htm>; Barry Rubin, "North Korea's Threat to the Middle East and the Middle East's Threat to Asia"
<http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/meria/books/brkorea.html>
Konuralp Pamukcu, "Water-Related Cooperation Between Turkey and Israel"
<http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/meria/books/water-coop.html>
Barry Rubin, "Misperceptions and Perfect Understanding: The U.S. and
PLO" <http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/meria/books/misperceptions.htm>
Barry Rubin, "The PLO Charter Revision: A Crossroads in Palestinian
Politics" <http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/meria/books/plo-charter.htm

1. PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST

Bill Hale, Turkish Foreign Policy: 1774-2000 (London, Frank Cass, 2000), 334 pp. hardcover price. Andrew Mango, Ataturk, (London, John Murray, 1999), 539pp., 30 pounds. These two superb new books have revolutionized the study of modern Turkey. Both authors are noted experts who have used a wide range of sources in their research.

Mango's volume has done the seemingly impossible job of transcending earlier biographies of Kemal Ataturk, the Republic's founder and architect. To have two such singular achievements within a single year is a special treat for those interested in modern Turkey. Mango had an almost 40-year career with the BBC, while Hale has taught at Durham and London universities. They are both first-rate writers as well as good scholars, once again proving that these two abilities should always go hand-in-hand.

Bill Hale has produced a stunning achievement that is a major addition to the field of Turkish studies: the first full and comprehensive study of the Ottoman Empire's and Turkish Republic's foreign policy. It is hard to overstate the qualities of this book. While it does not seek to raise dramatic new theses or unveil new facts, it is beautifully written, balanced, comprehensive, and accessible to someone even with no knowledge of Turkey.

After having discussed both these books with many experts in the field, it is clear that despite specific points of criticisms or feeling that some areas have been given less space than they deserve, the overwhelming verdict is one of high praise.

A. Books

Tony Allan, The Middle East Water Question: Hydropolitics and The Global Economy (I. B. Tauris, 2000). 39.50 UK pounds plus 6.50 UK pounds airmail postage, hardback, ISBN 1-86064-582-8. To order: I. B. Tauris & Co. Ltd: <mail@ibtauris.com>.

David Menashari, Post-Revolutionary Politics in Iran (Frank Cass, 2000). 45 Pounds hardback; 18.50 pounds, paperback, ISBN 0-7146-5074-9. <http://www.frankcass.com>.

Sherifa Zuhur, Asmahan's Secrets: Woman, War, and Song (Austin: Center for Middle Eastern Studies, University of Texas, 2000). $15.95 hardcover; $12.75 paperback, ISBN 0-292-79807-5. <http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/books/zuhasp>.

Sherifa Zuhur (editor), Colors of Enchantment: Theater, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts of the Middle East (AUC Press, 2001). $15.95, ISBN 977-424-607-1. To order: Chris Terry, <cterry@aucnyo.edu>. 

B. Journals, Newsletters. Papers

Barry Rubin, "An Ideal U.S. Policy for the Middle East," Washington Quarterly (vol. 24, no. 3), Summer 2001.

New issues of the Journal of Israeli History (Vol. 19, No. 2) and Middle Eastern Studies (Vol. 37, No.2): <http://www.frankcass.com/jnls>.

New SOAS Occasional Papers: No. 16: “Water Stressed Regions: The Middle East and Southern Africa” by Suki Jobson; No. 27: “Policy Transformation and Implementation in The Water Sector in Lebanon: The Role of Politics” by Emmi Kunigk; No. 28: "Not A Simple Path: A Sustainable Future For Central Asia” by Kai Wegerich: <http://www.soas.ac.uk/geography/waterissues/OccasionalPapers/home.html>. Also new diagrams showing trends in agricultural commodity production and trade: <http://www.soas.ac.uk/geography/waterissues/OccasionalPapers/home.html>.

New issue of Crossing Borders Bi-Monthly Middle East youth magazine (V.2, N.8). For more information and a copy of the last issue, Shimon Malka:  <lilu@zahav.net.il>.

2. WEBSITES/GROUPS ONLINE

A. General:

MEDEA (European Institute for Research on Mediterranean and Euro-Arab Cooperation) list of people and countries: <http://www.medea.be/en/index240.htm>. Includes Defense Expenditure in the Middle East: <http://www.medea.be/en/index264.htm>.

  The Arab Documentation Center - ADC has 36 newspapers and 20 magazines in English, Arabic, and French:  <http://www.assafir.com/ADC/index.htm>. For questions: <ADC@assafir.com> or <Iman@assafir.com>.

U.S. Department of State annual report on Patterns of Global Terrorism and Secretary of State Colin L. Powell's briefing on the subject: <http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/pgtrpt/2000/>.

U.S. Department of State International Information Program's transcripts on Middle East and North Africa: <http://usinfo.state.gov/products/washfile/nea.shtml>.

Macquarrie University Middle East Simulation, an extended role-playing game conducted by e-mail and website. Students, divided into teams, play a Middle Eastern role, respond to a likely scenario. <http://hardy.ocs.mq.edu.au/~control1/sim_info.html>. For further information: <control1@hardy.ocs.mq.edu.au> or: <control2@hardy.ocs.mq.edu.au>.

General Zinni, former head of U.S. Gulf command, an interview, part of the Berkeley "Conversations with History" series.  <http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/conversations/Zinni/zinni-con0.html>.

Summary of November 2000 conference at the Center for Strategic Studies of the University of Jordan: The American Component in Europe's Middle East Policy: <http://www.css-jordan.org/activities/conferences/americancomp/report.htm>.

 B. Iran

Iranian Oral History Project (IOHP), offers a selection of transcripts from the project's interviews with people involved in political events in Iran 1920-1970. Also includes a list of interview subjects and information on accessing the full collection and the collection of online excerpts: <http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~mideast/iohp/>.

U.S. Policy towards Iran, includes material in English and Persian (.pdf format), 1999 State Department Human Rights Report on Iran and related links: <http://usinfo.state.gov/regional/nea/gulfsec/iranpage.htm>.

C. Jordan and Israel

Air University (Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama), list of links and books on Jordan. Includes internet resources, books, documents and periodicals: <http://www.au.af.mil/au/aul/bibs/mideast/midest15.htm>.

The Israeli Air Force now has an official English site including 3D models and videos of IAF planes and photos of IAF aircraft: <http://www.iaf.org.il>.

3. FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS TO E-MAIL PUBLICATIONS

El Corresponsal, an on-line magazine in Spanish covering politics, economy, society, culture and tourism of the Middle East and Africa: <http://www.elcorresponsal.com>.

SARA - Scholarly Articles Research Alerting - delivers tables of contents, by email, for any Taylor & Francis, Carfax, Routledge, Spon Press, Martin Dunitz or Psychology Press journal. To register: <http://www.tandf.co.uk/sara> and click on the SARA button. For further information: <http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals> or <SARA@tandf.co.uk>.

4. FUNDING/SCHOLARSHIPS/FELLOWSHIPS/WRITING OPPORTUNITIES

5. RESEARCH QUERIES-PLEASE HELP

6. SCHOLAR'S AND AUTHOR'S ALERTS (writers report on their books, articles, and activities)

Ruth Kark and Michal Oren-Nordheim, "Jerusalem and its Environs: Quarters, Neighborhoods, Villages, 1800-1948" (Wayne State University Press and Magnes Press, Detroit and Jerusalem, 2001).

7. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, LECTURES [This only lists new entries. For additional items, see MERIA News past issues on our homepage. We welcome submissions of events.]

May 2, 2001. The Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS), Georgetown U. Basil Ghattas, Director of the Galilee Society: The Palestinians in Israel: An Emerging Factor in the Arab-Israeli Conflict. 12:00 pm, CCAS Boardroom, Intercultural Center 241. Lunch will be served. RSVP Anne Marie Chaaraoui: <chaaraoa@georgetown.edu>.

May 4, 2001. The National Resource Center on the Middle East and the National Resource Center on Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies at Georgetown University. Workshop: The Black Sea in History and Politics. 9:00a.m. - 5:30p.m.  205 Old North. RSVP to Amber Shifflett: 202/687-9101 or: <shifflal@georgetown.edu>.

May 4, 2001.  School of Oriental and African Studies, London (SOAS). Dr Thomas Stauffer: The Libyan Gmmr - Implications for How to Analyze Projects. 2.00 pm at SOAS - Room G50. <http://www.soas.ac.uk/Information/home.html> RSVP <tony.allan@soas.ac.uk>.

May 7, 2001. The Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS), Georgetown University. Jeffrey  Williamson, Professor of Economics at Harvard University: Demographic Shocks and Global Factor Flows. 12:15 pm, CCAS Boardroom, Intercultural Center 241. RSVP Anne Marie Chaaraoui: <chaaraoa@georgetown.edu>.

May 8, 2001.  School of Oriental and African Studies, London (SOAS). Dr Marian Fuchs-Carsch: Proposal Preparation and Report Writing. Tuesday 11.00 - 1300 and 14.00 - 15.30 at SOAS in Room G58. <http://www.soas.ac.uk/Information/home.html> RSVP <tony.allan@soas.ac.uk>.

May 11, 2001. The Caspian Studies Program at the Belfer Center for
Science and International Affairs: "Azerbaijan: Between Authoritarianism
and Democracy." 14:30 to 16:00, BCSIA Library, Room L369, the JFK School
at Harvard University, Cambridge MA. Dr. Svante Cornell, fellow at SAIS
and a lecturer on the Caucasus at Uppsala University, Sweden and Chingiz
Mammadov, Senior Program Officer at the National Democratic Institute in
Baku, Azerbaijan, will discuss perspectives for continued
democratization efforts in Azerbaijan. <sdijfk@harvard.edu> 

May 29, 2001.  School of Oriental and African Studies, London (SOAS). Anders Jagerskog, TEM, Linkpping University, Sweden: The Jordan River Basin: Explaining Interstate Water Cooperation. 5.00 pm SOAS Room 116. <http://www.soas.ac.uk/Information/home.html> RSVP <tony.allan@soas.ac.uk>.

June 14-15, 2001. The Institute for Science and International Security, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington D.C. Conference on: Understanding the Lessons of Nuclear Inspections and Monitoring in Iraq: A Ten-Year Review. Given the fluid and sensitive nature of the situation in Iraq, portions of this conference will be off the record. $25.00 registration fee is required (U.S. government personnel, DOE laboratory personnel, and participants traveling from outside the United States are exempted from this fee, but still must return a registration form). For further information and registration: <http://www.isis-online.org/publications/iraq/conf/toregister.pdf> or:

<http://www.isis-online.org/publications/iraq/conf/toregister.html>.

Awards: Lycos, Top 5% Site; Arab E-Journal, Publication of the month; Selection, Scout Report for Social Sciences; Award, Newsbytes news wire; LinksGo Key Resource Award. MERIA is indexed in Cambridge University's Index Islamicus. Staff: Editor: Barry Rubin; Assistant Editors: Cameron Brown, Elisheva Rosman-Stollman. London representative: Lawrence Joffe. Canadian representative: Brent Sasley. Turkish representative: Ozgul Erdemli.

MERIA offers you discounts on books and publications. We welcome special arrangements for our readers. To propose articles, items for publication, give others free subscriptions, or other correspondence, write:besa@mail.biu.ac.il

 

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