Written in a lively and clear style by one of the leading scholars in modern Middle Eastern history
Clearly traces the origins and history of the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL), the ideological factors that made it unique among jihadi groups, the reasons for its successes, and its future
Pays special attention to the Syrian uprising, emphasizing the extent to which it was militarized and sectarianized, and forecasts possible outcomes
Includes an examination of the often-overlooked uprisings in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq

Since Muhammad Bouazizi set himself on fire in Tunisia on December 17, 2010, galvanizing the Arab uprisings that continue today, the entire Middle East landscape has changed in ways that were unimaginable years before.

In spite of the early hype about a so-called "Arab Spring" and the prominence observers gave to calls for the downfall of regimes and an end to their abuses, most of the protests and uprisings born of Bouazizi`s self-immolation have had disastrous results across the whole Middle East. While the old powers reasserted their control with violence in Egypt and Bahrain, Libya, Yemen, and Syria have virtually ceased to exist as states, torn apart by civil wars. In other states, namely Morocco and Algeria, the forces of reaction were able to maintain their hold on power, while in the "hybrid democracies" of Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq, protests against government inefficiency, corruption, and arrogance have done little to bring about the sort of changes protesters have demanded. Simultaneously, ISIS, along with other jihadi groups (al-Qaeda, al-Qaeda affiliates, Ansar al-Shariahs, etc.) has thrived in an environment marked by state breakdown.

This book explains these changes, outlining the social, political, and economic contours of what some have termed "the new Middle East." One of the leading scholars of modern Middle Eastern history, James L. Gelvin lucidly distills the political and economic reasons behind the dramatic news arriving each day from Syria and the rest of the Middle East. He shows how and why bad governance, stagnant economies, poor healthcare, climate change, population growth, refugee crises, food and water insecurity, and war increasingly threaten human security in the region.

Table of Contents
Preface
1 Before the deluge: the Middle East, 1945-2011
2 The Arab uprisings and their fallout
3 The Syria imbroglio
4 The rise and decline of ISIS
5 Patrons, proxies, and freelancers: the international relations of the New Middle East
6 Human security in the New Middle East
Notes
Further Reading
Index

James L. Gelvin is Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History at UCLA. His publications include The Arab Uprisings: What Everyone Needs to Know®, The Modern Middle East: A History, and The Israel-Palestine Conflict: One Hundred Years of War.