R. Stephen Humphreys is Professor of History and Islamic Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of Islamic History: A Framework for Inquiry (second edition, 1991) among other works.

"In this sober and highly informative book, Humphreys introduces educated readers to the nuances of Middle Eastern political and social discourse. He goes behind the headlines and offers a sophisticated and yet accessible analysis of Islamic polity for Western readers." - Library Journal It is a rare achievement that combines erudition, compelling writing, and personal experience." - Meron Benvenisti, author of City of Stone"

• Preface to the 2005 Edition Preface to the First Edition Acknowledgments 1. Hard Realities: Population Growth and Economic Stagnation 2. From Imperialism to the New World Order: The Middle East in Search of a Future 3. The Strange Career of Pan-Arabism 4. The Shaping of Foreign Policy: The Myth of the Middle East Madman 5. Military Dictatorship and Political Tradition in the Middle East 6. Profane and Sacred Politics: The Ends of Power in the Middle East 7. Islam as a Political System 8. Jihad and the Politics of Salvation 9. Women in Public Life: Islamic Perspectives, Middle Eastern Realities 10. Islam and Human Rights Toward a Conclusion--Between Memory and Desire Notes A Bibliographic Note Index