Book excerpt: THE POLITICS OF THE MIDDLE EAST is so highly regarded in the field of Mid-East study because it strikes a unique balance between an historical approach and the analysis of country case studies. This blended approach gives students a fuller picture of the region, including the influences of tribalism, kinship, and the Islamic faith as well as an understanding of the region's political uprisings, religious significance, and petroleum resources that make it crucially important to the rest of the world. In the introduction, key aspects of Middle Eastern politics are explored on a regional level, setting up the chapters that follow, which focus on country studies (including new studies of Palestine and Turkey). The influence of America's war on terror in the Middle East also receives extensive coverage. Each country study begins with an exploration of the country's history and an overview of the major political institutions and groups that shape current events. Particular attention is paid to the influence of elite groups and individuals. Next, the discussion examines the context of the country's politics: political culture, political economy, and international influence. Each chapter concludes with a look at the probable course of the country's politics over the next decade and beyond.