Middle Eastern Politics and Ideas

Ilan Pappe is one of Israel's most prominent historians. Having taught for many years at the University of Haifa, he is now Chair of History at the University of Exeter. He is the author of numerous books, including 'The Modern Middle East' and 'The Making of the Arab-Israeli Conflict' (IB Tauris), and is a regular contributor to the London Review of Books.

• Muhammad Husayn Haykal's recantation of Positivism, 1927-30, Israel Gershoni; The impact of a 15th-century manuscript on the late Ottoman Empire, Butrus Abu Manneh; Albert Hourani and the debate over Orientalism, Gabi Piterberg; the Ottoman elites of the 17th and 19th centuries, Ehud Toledano; the Husseinis at the turn of the century, Ilan Pappe; the Syrian pre-revolutionary elite and its attitude towards Zionism and Israel, Moshe Maoz; Albert Hourani and the Anglo-American enquiry commission on Palestine 1945-46, Amikam Nachmani.