Recommended for These Courses
Description
Written for lay readers and students of the Middle East, The Modern History of Iraq, places in historical perspective the multiple crises and upheavals that afflict contemporary Iraq. The book focuses on several important themes: the search for national identity in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious state; the struggle to achieve economic development and modernity in a traditional society; and the political dynamics that have led to the current dire situation in Iraq. While much remains opaque about contemporary Iraq because of its closed political system, Marr has used published sources in Arabic and English, personal interviews, and frequent visits to Iraq to produce a remarkably lucid and readable account of the emergence of contemporary Iraq and the forces that have shaped it.
About the Author
Dr. Phebe Marrhas published or contributed to several books on the Middle East, such as The Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa, Fourth Edition, edited by David Long and Bernard Reich (Westview Press 2002). She has also sat on the editorial board for the Middle East Journal . She was a Senior Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University (1985–1997) and continued her detailed work under the Woodrow Wilson Center Fellowship and as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
"Phebe Marr’s The Modern History of Iraq, Second Edition is in fact a new book. This is a tour de force of the history of modern Iraq, probably the most turbulent history in the 20th century Middle East. Marr’s book provides all the important details of the history of the first 80 years of the Iraqi nation-state. This is a highly intricate political, social and economic history, yet Marr’s account remains fluent and lucid throughout. Reading the book is sheer pleasure also because it brings together profound understanding of the people and the land, filling many gaps in our knowledge and creating a rich tapestry that is rarely seen in contemporary historical literature. Marr’s book provides information and explanation for many events that until now were not fully understood. In places where political loyalties and interests or inter-communal relations and attitudes were ambivalent and complex, and there were many such cases in Iraqi history, Marr portrays and analyzes this ambivalence and complexity skillfully and cogently. This book is a must for anyone who is interested in the history of Iraq and the Middle East in general. It is suitable for the general public, but also for university students and for specialists who want to check their facts. The book contains a great deal of new information and analysis, particularly when it comes to the years of Ba’th rule, including Saddam Hussein’s hold over Iraq."
— Amatzia Baram, Professor of Middle East History at the University of Haifa and Senior Fellow at the US Institute of Peace, Washington, DC
"This comprehensive work provides a wealth of detail and acute insights into the evolution of modern Iraq while remaining readable and clear in style and structure. It should prove indispensable for academics and students as well as for journalists and policy-makers seeking to understand the development of contemporary Iraq."
— Bernard Reich, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, George Washington University
Praise for the previous edition:
"The Modern History of Iraq is a solid work of historical research, well-written and extremely well-organized, rich in content and texture, compact, easy to read, and totally free of bias…. a clear and readable one-volume account of the emergence of the new state and the forces that created it."
— Jerusalem Post Magazine
"(Dr. Phebe Marr’s book) is the best one-volume work on Iraq in English, or in any other language of which I am aware…. the comprehensive coverage of Iraq’s economic and social history, as well as the political, will be welcome d by people interested in the Middle East, lay and specialist alike."
— Middle East Journal
"Marr has written an authoritative work that meets a great need: an up-to-date, readable, and comprehensive treatment of recent Iraqi history."
— AAPSS Annals
"The author has specialized in the study of Iraq for some years and this is evident in the authority of the scholarship that is presented here. Utilizing primary and secondary sources in Arabic and interviews with key personalities extending over some years, the analysis is sound and persuasive."
— American Arab Affairs
"A timely, comprehensive, and much-needed modern history of Iraq…. Marr has accomplished an excellent blending of personal interviews, statistical data, and secondary sources. The book is a must for graduates students, undergraduates, and the general reader concerned with the development of insight and understanding of present-day Middle East problems."
— Choice
"(Marr) has thus produced a fine example of history at its best. In fact, this may well be the best book on modern Iraq now available… Moreover, Marr has written her book in a style easily accessible to students and nonspecialists. The more informed reader will benefit from the wealth of material brought together in one volume."
— Frank Tachau, University of Illinois, Chicago
Order from an online bookseller
Find a local bookseller
(Check your local Yellow Pages for a bookstore near you.)
International online orders
Domestic and International offline orders
The Perseus Books Group
Customer Service Department
1094 Flex Drive
Jackson, TN 38301
Return to top
