Synopses & Reviews
Turkey, which has always held an important position in global affairs, has become even more prominent on the international stage as an economic power and a harbinger of political Islam.
During more than ten years in powerand#8212;an unprecedented tenureand#8212;Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) have expanded Turkeyand#8217;s trade, diplomatic ties, and cultural exports to transform the country from an economically disadvantaged secular state into the first large Muslim nation with a middle-class majority. Erdogan has asserted Turkish influence in high-stakes, high-profile foreign issues from Gaza to Egypt to Syria, often breaking ranks with his NATO allies. Today, from the cafand#233;s of the Arab world to the boardrooms of the G-20, Turkey suddenly matters.
The Rise of Turkey: The Twenty-First Centuryand#8217;s First Muslim Power is a guide to the countryand#8217;s changes, both in its inspiring national potential and in the grave challenges it poses to regional affairs. Structured as a travelogue, each chapter opens on a different Turkish city and captures a new theme of Turkeyand#8217;s transformation. From the Kurdish issue to foreign policy, Soner Cagaptay argues that Turkey needs to successfully balance its Muslim identity with its Western orientation in order to solidify its position as a regional and global power.
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Review
"The Battle for the Arab Spring is lucidly written and includes a wealth of astute analysis on the politics of the region, from Morocco to Oman. It answers questions I had long wondered about, as well as others that hadnand#8217;t occurred to me." and#8212; Paul Hockenos is the author of Joschka Fischer and the Making of the Berlin Republic: An Alternative History of Postwar Germany
Review
The Battle for the Arab Spring by Lin Noueihed and Alex Warren is a highly worthwhile read for a clear analysis of the discontent that
fed the popular uprisings and what the aftermath might bring to the Arab world. and#8212;Rebecca Aguilar, M.Ed.
Review
andquot;The overall scope and breadth of the work makes it deserving of special recognition. The authors' personal experiences are combined well with a riveting narrative that plays especially well in chronicling the 'battleground states'.andquot; andmdash;James Denselow, Huffington Post
Review
andquot;The Battle for the Arab Spring is lucidly written and includes a wealth of astute analysis on the politics of the region, from Morocco to Oman. It answers questions I had long wondered about, as well as others that hadnandrsquo;t occurred to me.andquot; andmdash; Paul Hockenos, The Nationaland#160;
Review
andldquo;For anyone interested in the complex developments that are reshaping Turkey, Dr. Soner Cagaptayandrsquo;s insightful new book is the place to start. The Rise of Turkey provides a valuable window into the many factorsandmdash;from economics and religion to politics and the militaryandmdash;that continue to make Turkey one of the most fascinating and important countries in the world.andrdquo;andmdash;U.S. Sen. John McCain
Review
andldquo;Dr. Soner Cagaptay is an extraordinary observer of Turkey, and his book, The Rise of Turkey, offers a wealth of insights for both interested observers and specialists alike. . . . For anyone interested in Turkey and American policy toward it, this book should be required reading.andrdquo;andmdash;Ambassador Dennis Ross, former special assistant to President Barack Obama and National Security Council senior director
Review
andldquo;Dr. Soner Cagaptay peels back the many layers that make Turkey such a fascinating and important country. With his deep understanding of Turkey, he is able to explore the political, cultural, and economic factors that have shaped its remarkable history and that may foreshadow its future.andrdquo;andmdash;Joseph Lieberman, former U.S. senator
Review
andquot;The Rise of Turkey is undoubtedly an essential read for anyone interested in developing a serious understanding of modern Turkey.andquot;andmdash;Reza Akhlaghi, Foreign Policy Association
Review
"Cagaptay does an excellent job in outlining the challenges and choices that confront contemporary Turkey."and#8212;H. Shambayati,
CHOICEReview
"[The Rise of Turkey is] a good and thorough overview of the issues facing Turkey today."and#8212;Marion James, Today's Zaman
Synopsis
The story of the revolutionary zeal that swept the Arab nations in 2011 and an assessment of what the uprisings have achieved to date
Synopsis
Sparked by the protest of a single vegetable seller in Tunisia, the flame of revolutionary passion swept across the Arab world in what has come to be called the Arab Spring of 2011. Millions took to the streets in revolt: the governments of Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya fell, other regimes remain embattled, and no corner of the region has escaped unchanged. In this informed and accessible book, Lin Noueihed and Alex Warren explain the economic and political roots of the Arab Spring, assess what has been accomplished so far, and consider the many stumbling blocks that confront the Arab nations as they try to shape their futures.
Through research, interviews, and a wealth of firsthand experience, the authors explain the unique set of obstacles that endanger stability in each country. They analyze the challenges many Arab nations face in building democratic institutions, finding consensus on political Islam, overcoming tribal divides, and satisfying an insatiable demand for jobs. In an era of change and uncertainty, this insightful guide provides the first clear glimpse of the post-revolutionary future the Arab Spring set in motion.
Synopsis
This accessible book explains the explosive events of the Arab Spring, assesses each country's accomplishments, and identifies the challenges Arab countries face in forging their own democracies.
About the Author
SONER CAGAPTAY is the Beyer Family fellow and director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute. A historian by training, Dr. Cagaptay has written extensively on U.S.-Turkey relations, Turkish domestic politics, and Turkish nationalism. He has taught courses at Yale University, Princeton University, Georgetown University, and Smith College on the Middle East, Mediterranean, and Eastern Europe. From 2006 to 2007 he was Ertegun Professor at Princeton Universityand#8217;s Department of Near Eastern Studies. Dr. Cagaptayand#8217;s work has been published regularly in scholarly journals and in major international print media, including the
New York Times,
Washington Post, and the
Wall Street Journal. He has been a regular columnist for CNN-
GPS and
Hand#252;rriyet Daily News, Turkeyand#8217;s oldest and most influential English-language paper, and he appears frequently on radio and television in the United States and abroad.