The Persian Gulf at the Millennium: Essays in Politics, Economy, Security and Religion

By: Sick, Gary G.

Book Overview

Throughout the second half of the twentieth century, the Gulf has been the scene - and sometimes the source - of international political and economic turmoil. Blatant intervention on the part of the Western powers in the domestic affairs of the eight regional states was a familiar feature from World War II until the British withdrawal in 1971, when it assumed more subtle forms. In addition, the oil shocks of the 1970s, followed closely by the Iranian revolution and the hostage crisis, triggered economic dislocations across the globe, as well as political upheaval and the disruption of a long-established security structure. In The Gulf at the Millennium , the most prominent Gulf specialists from both the Western world and the Gulf are brought together to look at this extraordinarily active and influential part of the world. The scholars identify and examine the issues that have the potential to affect future developments in the region, including the rapid demographic changes which are taking place, the relationship of the oil market to political stability and progress, the resurgence of Islam as a political force, the often heavy expenditures on defence, and new geostrategic realities after the end of the Cold War. A dynamic, crucial volume, The Gulf at the Millennium provides an unprecedented view beyond the media hype into what is perhaps the most volatile and controversial region of the world today.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312175671
• ISBN13: 9780312175672
• Release Date: August 1997
• Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan
• Length: 356 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Good Scholarly Book.

This book was required reading for a course I took on the politics of the Persian Gulf. It is a collection of essays from prominent experts in the field. I give it four stars only because it is a bit outdated. That said, even though it is nearly ten years old, most of it is still relevent today. One can look in academic journals or area briefs to supplement the information provided in the book and get a more up to date prospective of the arguements presented. There is also a website that relates to the text given. Most of the arguments are sound and thought provoking even though conditions in the gulf today are much different than in 1997.