Book Description
How should scholars construct knowledge about politics, economics, and international relations in major world regions? According to the contributors to this lively volume, the conflicting approaches of regional specialists and discipline-oriented social scientists must be combined to provide a firm foundation for studying the contemporary politics of the Middle East. Contributors are Lisa Anderson, Anne Banda, Laurie A. Brand, Laura Zittrain Eisenberg, John P. Entelis, Clement M. Henry, Magda Kandil, Baghat Korany, Jodi Nachtwey, Augustus Richard Norton, and Mark Tessler. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Looking for balance between social science and area studies
The longstanding debate in the study of Middle East politics Area Studies and Social Science has divided schorlas in two general camps. Thos upporting the political economy approach (and its variations, i.e. State focused studies) such as James Waterbury, Roger Owens or Nazih Ayubi to mention some and those preferring a more cultural approach based on modernization theory typified by Bernard Lewis. This book edited by Mark Tessler aims to draw from the various approaches to establish a balanced view which combines the more scientific 'methods' of describing the Middle East through social science with the historical and local specificity of area studies. Tessler's aim is to sgow that neother approach works well in isolation and that, indeed, a combination of these two provides the most effective framework to the study of the Middle East. The one discipline adding the necessary context to the other's discipline.
The book features a collection of essays by noted scholars such as Lisa Anderson, Clement Henry and August Richard Norton (among others) which are invaluable to the specialist as well as those who have had less exposure to the debate. I especially enjoyed Lisa Anderson's essay in which she acknowledges some of the shortcomings of area studies and the need to combine more social science perspectives in the discipline. Nervetheless, the other essays are just as important and valuable. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A very interesting read
This booklet was published by the International Institute for Mesopotamian Area Studies in 1990. It is an examination, in very general terms, of the role of the temples in ancient Mesopotamia, especially as the role changed between the Third Dynasty of Ur and the First Dynasty of Babylon. The booklet is written in a very heavy academic style, which makes the reading somewhat dense.

The upside of this work is that it does provide some very interesting insights into the roles of the temple in the periods discussed. The downside is that this is a very short work, which means that while it does provide insights, it does not provide any in-depth information. Overall, though, I did find this to be a very interesting read. ... Read more

Book Description