I just got a BA that was half in political science, yet I still feel so ignorant, especially when I read some of the well-informed discussion of the Middle East in GD. There are whole regions- Europe, Africa, and the Middle-East especially- that I really don’t feel like I understand as well as I’d like to. Does anyone have anything to recommend in the way of books that are informative on the politics of these regions while also being accessible (as in, not assuming too much prior knowledge and not be overburdened with names and dates) and maybe even somewhat entertaining? I had a terrific professor for whom I probably read 50-60 books during my college career, but without his quizzes motivating me I feel like I’m getting stupider.
Guns, Germs and Steel is on my reading list for starters, that’s one that seems to come up a lot.
By the way, non-partisan isn’t a strict requirment by any means; the book can and probably should have a thesis, I just don’t want to read anything too looney to either the right or the left, at least not without going in knowing that the author is controversial. I tend to too easily trust others’ expertise, so I’d like to start with books that are generally considered factually solid.
Well, this is a miserable failure so far. I do get one bump, right?
I think that this is a very good question and I’m disappointed that you haven’t received any replies. I would also be interested in reading the type of books you describe.
I’m going to look for the title that you mentioned, and in the meantime if I find anything else, I’ll let you know.
Thanks for the great question, I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you get some answers!
I liked Guns, Germs and Steel.
Non-partisan primer: Chris Brown’s Understanding International Relations.
On African international relations, with an emphasis on peacekeeping:
William Shawcross, Deliver Us from Evil
Baehr and Gordenker, The United Nations at the End of the 1990s
Dennis Jett, Why Peacekeeping Fails
Shawcross and Jett are both partisan, in opposite directions, yet they both make valid points, and its good to read them both to get the full picture.
The Economist has an Africa section, and comes out every week.
I would suggest visiting The Atlantic Monthly website. It’s not non-partisan, however. Apparently, it’s one of the two magazines that “liberals” get their information from. Anyway, the book reviews are great and they often review the types of books you’re referring too. It might take some digging, but you should find some leads there. Also, I think The Economist might have something or other you would like.
Glad I finally got something, but I’d still like to hear more. In particular, I’m embarrassed to say that a lot of the specifics about the history and relations of various mid-east religious and political factions kind of loses me, which is something I would definitely like to remedy given how much news-time the region gets these days.
My political science class related to the middle east used the following book. It is a great book but now OOP.
A concise history of the Middle East
by Arthur Goldschmidt Jr.
I read this one and would recommend it:
A History of the Modern Middle East
by William L. Cleveland
I have not read this one but it was recommended to me:
The Middle East
by Bernard Lewis
Bernard Lewis has also written “What went wrong: The Clash between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East”. It was a bit wishy-washy given the status of the man on the topic, but its an easy read.