In a lively and provocative book for both specialist and general reader alike, Adeed Dawisha paints an arresting portrait of the radical Arab states and movements—including their institutions, motives, ideologies, activities, and policies.

By probing the varied factors that underpin radical politics, the author explains more than just the phenomenon of radicalism in the Arab world; he also illuminates the complex nature of Arab politics in general.

Dawisha also confronts the difficult, underlying question of what constitutes radicalism, and offers insight into the causes of terrorism and the motives behind states or groups that resort to terrorist tactics.

Among the specific questions he addresses are:

What are the institutions that support and promote radical policies?

What in the recent history of radical Arab states and organizations has nurtured radicalism?

Are leaders of radical forces genuinely radical, or do they use radicalism to legitimate their role?

What impact do external actors—Israel, Iran, the U.S. and USSR—have on Arab radicalism?

What is the future of radicalism within the Arab political order?

About the Author

Adeed Dawisha is Professor of Government and Politcs at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Born in Baghdad, Iraq, Dr. Dawisha received his Ph.D. from the London Scholl of Economics and Political Science in 1974. He subsequently taught at a number of British universities. In 1977-78, he was a Senior Research Associate at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. In 1979, he joined the Royal Institute of International Affairs as Deputy Director of Studies. On leave from the Institute during 1983-85, he was first Visiting Professor at The School of Advanced International Studies, The Johns Hopkins University, and then Visiting Fellow at the Department of Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University, and Consulting Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, New York City. During 1985-86, he was Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution.

In addition to over 50 book chapters and articles in scholarly journals, Dr. Dawisha is the author of Egypt in the Arab World: The Elements of Foreign Policy (Macmillan and Wiley, 1976), Syria and The Lebanese Crisis (Macmillan and St. Martin's Press, 1980), and Saudi Arabia 's Search for Security (Inter-national Institute for Strategic Studies, 1980—translated into Japanese 1980, into German 1981). He is also the editor (with Karen Dawisha) of The Soviet Union in the Middle East: Policies and Perspectives (Heinemann and Holmes and Meier, 1982), and Islam in Foreign Policy (Cambridge University Press, 1983, reprinted 1985).

The Council on Foreign Relations

Founded in 1921, the Council on Foreign Relations is an educational institution, a research institution, and a unique forum bringing together leaders from the academic, public and private worlds. The Council's basic constituency is its members, but it also reaches out to the broader public so as to contribute to the national dialogue on foreign policy. The Council is private and nonpartisan and takes no positions as an organization.

The Council’s Studies Program explores foreign policy questions through research by the Council’s professional staff, visiting Fellows, and others, and through study groups and conferences. The Council also publishes the journal Foreign Affairs in addition to books and monographs.

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