Middle Easterners struggle to find solutions to crises of economic stagnation, political gridlock, and cultural identity. The author presents an analysis of Islam's place in Middle East and integrates the medieval and modern history of the region to show how the sacred and secular are tightly interwoven in its political and intellectual life. Preface to the 2005 Edition xi Preface to the First Edition xxiii Acknowledgments xxxiii Hard Realities: Population Growth and Economic Stagnation 1(22) From Imperialism to the New World Order: The Middle East in Search of a Future 23(37) The Strange Career of Pan-Arabism 60(23) The Shaping of Foreign Policy: The Myth of the Middle East Madman 83(30) Military Dictatorship and Political Tradition in the Middle East 113(18) Profane and Sacred Politics: The Ends of Power in the Middle East 131(17) Islam as a Political System 148(26) Jihad and the Politics of Salvation 174(30) Women in Public Life: Islamic Perspectives, Middle Eastern Realities 204(23) Islam and Human Rights 227(34) Toward a Conclusion---Between Memory and Desire 261(12) Notes 273(16) A Bibliographic Note 289(4) Index 293