Introduction / Jillian Schwedler -- The Middle East : a geographic preface / Ian R. Manners and Barbara McKean Parmenter -- The historical context / Arthur Goldschmidt, Jr. -- Middle Eastern politics / Deborah J. Gerner and Philip A. Schrodt -- International relations / Mary Ann Tétreault -- The Israeli-Palestinian conflict / Simona Sharoni and Mohammed Abu-Nimer -- The economies of the Middle East / Agnieszka Paczynska -- The political economy of Middle Eastern oil / Mary Ann Tétreault -- Population growth, urbanization, and the challenges of unemployment / Valentine M. Moghadam -- Kinship, class, and ethnicity / Laurie King-Irani -- The role of women / Lisa Taraki -- Religion and politics in the Middle East / Jillian Schwedler -- Middle Eastern literature / Miriam Cooke -- Trends and prospects / Jillian Schwedler and Deborah J. Gerner.