This second edition of Beverley Milton-Edwards popular and successful textbook has been fully revised and expandedIncludes up-to-date coverage of the war in Iraq, developments in Israel/Palestine and the aftermath of 9/11Features a new chapter on US relations with the Middle EastProvides an in-depth survey of the literature on the politics, economics, history sociology of the Middle EastOffers extended case-studies of major regions, events and groups from Eygpt to Iran, and from Hamas to BaathismOffers an unusually balanced account of the political life of this important region