Although momentous current events force global powers to respect the importance of the Middle East, the area has long played a strategic role in world affairs. It has been the key to the Orient, the bridge to Africa, Asia, and Europe, and a trade centre for millenia. This work by veteran authors examines the dynamics of 20th-century Middle Eastern politics within this historical and cultural framework. Part 1 addresses the underlying patterns of continuity and change in the region. According to the authors, the burden of history, the legacy of nationalism, and the heritage of Islam have defined what is and is not possible in the Middle East. Subsequent sections, organized country by country, provide 15 case studies of the political systems of the states, each written by a specialist on the particular country. This is the only work available that discusses North Africa, Libya, the Sudan, and Palestine in such a context.