The Middle East has changed clearly, substantially, and dramatically during the last decade. Yet scholarly and public understanding lags far behind these recent events. Barry Rubin's historical and political summation of the region shows how events and ideas have both shaped and altered its character.

Professor Barry Rubin is Deputy Director of the BESA Center for Strategic Studies and is editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs and the journal Turkish Studies. He is the author of fifteen books, including The Transformation of Palestinian Politics: From Revolution to State-Building (2001).

1. The triumph of the 'old Middle East'; 2. Paradigm lost; 3. The regime's success, the nation's disaster; 4. Syria, the test case for reform; 5. Iran: the people versus the will of God?; 6. Force and violence in Middle East politics; 7. The battle for the soul of Islam; 8. The Arab-Israeli conflict: foundation stone or millstone?; 9. The political uses of anti-Americanism; 10. The uncivil society and the wall of lies.