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zare_i's review
4.0
In this very interesting book author gives an history of US foreign-office (and related organizations/trailblazers) working in the Middle East from late 19th century 'til 1990's.
From the sound of it you would not say this would be interesting - right. Believe me you would be wrong.
Kaplan follows first contacts of US missionaries/ambassadors (because this is what they were) and mysterious Middle East countries.
First US groups were people dedicated to the overthrow of colonial power (be it British (although US and UK were always close and US missionaries drew inspiration from their British cousins), French or Turkish) and national independence of Arab nations.
These men and women worked on bringing medicines, food and medical training to the rather backwater parts of the world. They opened universities to improve people's lives and ignite national feelings in Arabs. In return they were all taken by the unexplored vast expanses and very curious and proud people living there. They made a base that will enable grow of numerous US diplomats with interest and links to the Middle East - people that will work hard for US interests but very often also follow their own decisions [which very often lead to conflict with realpolitik] based on strong knowledge of area and also experience that back home in US their bosses did not know much.
And then came WW2 and after that something that would shatter Middle East 'til today - creation of state of Israel. This was a trigger that caused almost complete break of connection between US and Arabs. From this point onward everything was determined by realpolitik and US state interests in the region. By walking on a very thin edge US worked hard to remain in contact with both Israel and Arab nations. And this is where old guard had to go out for a sole reason that in real world with nation interests at stake there is no place for romanticism. New people came in and took the mantle and gave their best.
Especially interesting was information how Iraq, Syria and Lebanon were created - it was like by intention everyone that drew the border-lines wanted highly unstable region for years to come (which unfortunately got confirmed in recent years).
Excellent book that shows two important things:
- how easy is to go native when working with same people for a long time and how that might affect the reasoning and judgment in general
- how generalizing is never good - although called Arabists almost of them (with several exceptions that prove the rule) worked hard to bring peace and reason to relations between Israel and Arab nations and treated everyone the same
Highly recommended.
From the sound of it you would not say this would be interesting - right. Believe me you would be wrong.
Kaplan follows first contacts of US missionaries/ambassadors (because this is what they were) and mysterious Middle East countries.
First US groups were people dedicated to the overthrow of colonial power (be it British (although US and UK were always close and US missionaries drew inspiration from their British cousins), French or Turkish) and national independence of Arab nations.
These men and women worked on bringing medicines, food and medical training to the rather backwater parts of the world. They opened universities to improve people's lives and ignite national feelings in Arabs. In return they were all taken by the unexplored vast expanses and very curious and proud people living there. They made a base that will enable grow of numerous US diplomats with interest and links to the Middle East - people that will work hard for US interests but very often also follow their own decisions [which very often lead to conflict with realpolitik] based on strong knowledge of area and also experience that back home in US their bosses did not know much.
And then came WW2 and after that something that would shatter Middle East 'til today - creation of state of Israel. This was a trigger that caused almost complete break of connection between US and Arabs. From this point onward everything was determined by realpolitik and US state interests in the region. By walking on a very thin edge US worked hard to remain in contact with both Israel and Arab nations. And this is where old guard had to go out for a sole reason that in real world with nation interests at stake there is no place for romanticism. New people came in and took the mantle and gave their best.
Especially interesting was information how Iraq, Syria and Lebanon were created - it was like by intention everyone that drew the border-lines wanted highly unstable region for years to come (which unfortunately got confirmed in recent years).
Excellent book that shows two important things:
- how easy is to go native when working with same people for a long time and how that might affect the reasoning and judgment in general
- how generalizing is never good - although called Arabists almost of them (with several exceptions that prove the rule) worked hard to bring peace and reason to relations between Israel and Arab nations and treated everyone the same
Highly recommended.
shinymensch's review
5.0
One of the best books I have read concerning the corps of diplomats that actually have lived for many years among Arab populations and speak their languages. A tale of past Missionaries and the dynamics of change not just in the countries they inhabit but among the Arabist's themselves.
raehink's review against another edition
3.0
"Arabists" are diplomats, intelligence agents, scholars, adventurers, missionaries and military attaches serving in the Middle East. They were an elite group in the 19th-century. Kaplan contrasts their views of the Arab world with today's opinions...especially as they relate to Iraq and Saddam Hussein. Some of the writing in this book was dry, but I learned so much that I am glad I stuck with it.
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