The Mess They Made
Gwynne Dyer
'Journalistic rather than academic, The Mess They Made covers a vast sweep of history and politics in the style of a knowledgeable friend conversing in the pub …'
Jeff Sparrow (Age)'Most commentators on the war in Iraq (from both sides of the conflict) fail to put the events in a historical context, and those that do tend to offer a skewed (self-serving) version of that history. Dyer goes one better.
Not only does he place current events in a balanced and historical context, he also examines their significance in terms of the future …
Another reason why Dyer's books are worth reading is because they offer a clear and simple analysis of events, but without being reductive.'
Matthew Lamb (Courier Mail)'Dyer's intelligent insight and historical perspective offer a valuable contribution for those seeking to understand the complex Middle East.'
Frank Walker (Sun Herald)The Iraqi state that was formed in the aftermath of the First World War has come to an end. Its successor state is struggling to be born in an environment of crises and chaos. — Ali Allawi, Iraq’s defence minister
Allawi is not exaggerating. The disastrous American invasion of Iraq that has led to the destruction of the Iraqi state, and the subsequent defeat of US military power has finally destabilised the entire Middle East — a region that has been tightly controlled by European and American powers and that has changed little, politically, in 40 years. But, in losing the war in Iraq, the USA has lost the will to maintain the status quo in the Middle East, and the forces unleashed by the destruction of Iraq will go on to shape the future of the region in a way that no-one can predict.
As Gwynne Dyer argues in The Mess They Made, the Middle East is about to change fundamentally, and everything is now up for grabs: regimes, ethnic pecking-orders within states, even national borders themselves are liable to change without notice. Five years from now there could be an Islamic Republic of Arabia, an independent Kurdistan, a Muslim cold war between Sunnis and Shias, almost anything you care to imagine.
Written with clarity, intelligence, and Dyer’s trademark dark humour, The Mess They Made is essential reading for anyone wanting an informed historical perspective on the future of one of the most important and volatile regions in the world.
Gwynne Dyer
Gwynne Dyer has worked as a freelance journalist, columnist, author, broadcaster, and lecturer on international affairs for more than 20 years. His twice-weekly column on international affairs is published by 175 newspapers in some 45 countries and is translated into more than a dozen languages. He is the author of several books, including War, Future: Tense, The Mess They Made, and Climate Wars (all published by Scribe).
Website: http://www.gwynnedyer.com
Buy from Readings
Extent: 304pp
Size: 215mm x 140mm
ISBN (13): 9781921215612
RRP: $32.95
Pub date: June 2007
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