Shifting Sands : The Unravelling of the Old Order in the Middle East

Lines in the sand : the great war and the remarking of the Middle East -- In the present tense : the unravelling of the old order -- Living and writing in the Middle East : fiction, imagination and history -- Syria in crisis -- Afterword.;"At a time when the Middle East dominates media headlines more than ever - and for reasons that become ever more heartbreaking - Shifting Sands brings together fifteen impassioned and informed voices to talk about a region with unlimited potential, and yet which can feel, as one writer puts it, 'as though the world around me is on fire'?Collecting together the thoughts and insights of writers who live or have deep roots in there, Shifting Sands takes a look at aspects of the Middle East from the catastrophic long-term effects of the carving up of the region by the colonial powers after World War One to the hopes and struggles of the Arab spring in relation to Egypt, Iran and Syria. And it asks questions such as: what is it like to be a writer in the Middle East? What does the future hold? And where do we go from here? For all those who are wearied by the debates surrounding the Middle East - often at best ill-informed and at worst, defeatist propaganda - this intelligent, reasoned perspective on life in the Middle East is a breath of fresh air"-- Publisher. At A Time When The Middle East Dominates Media Headlines More Than Ever - And For Reasons That Become Ever More Heartbreaking - Shifting Sands Brings Together Fifteen Impassioned And Informed Voices To Talk About A Region With Unlimited Potential, And Yet Which Can Feel, As One Writer Puts It, 'as Though The World Around Me Is On Fire'?collecting Together The Thoughts And Insights Of Writers Who Live Or Have Deep Roots In There, Shifting Sands Takes A Look At Aspects Of The Middle East From The Catastrophic Long-term Effects Of The Carving Up Of The Region By The Colonial Powers After World War One To The Hopes And Struggles Of The Arab Spring In Relation To Egypt, Iran And Syria. And It Asks Questions Such As: What Is It Like To Be A Writer In The Middle East? What Does The Future Hold? And Where Do We Go From Here? For All Those Who Are Wearied By The Debates Surrounding The Middle East - Often At Best Ill-informed And At Worst, Defeatist Propaganda - This Intelligent, Reasoned Perspective On Life In The Middle East Is A Breath Of Fresh Air-- Publisher. Lines In The Sand : The Great War And The Remarking Of The Middle East -- In The Present Tense : The Unravelling Of The Old Order -- Living And Writing In The Middle East : Fiction, Imagination And History -- Syria In Crisis -- Afterword. Edited By Raja Shehadeh And Penny Johnson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 249-254). Copyright Page 4 Contents 6 Introduction 9 The Significance of a Screwdriver 9 Lines in the Sand: The Great War and the Remaking of the Middle East 21 The Post-Ottoman Syndrome 22 The Divisive Line: The Birth and Long Life of the Sykes–Picot Agreement 37 Why Did You Rename Your Son? Diaries of the Great War from the Ottoman Front 52 In the Present Tense: The Unravelling of the Old Order 68 Opening Politics’ Black Box: Reflections on the Past, Present and Future of the Egyptian Revolution 69 Cracked Cauldrons: The Failure of States and the Rise of New Narratives in the Middle East 81 A Long View from Baghdad 96 Iran: Coming in from the Cold? 110 Civic Courage: The Clue to Turkey’s Future? 124 Living and Writing in the Middle East: Fiction, Imagination and History 136 Living and Writing in Kuwait: What Fiction Can Do 137 Writing the Middle East, Writing Gaza 151 Fiction’s Histories: Writers and Readers in the Middle East 164 Syria in Crisis 177 What You Don’t Read About the Syrian Humanitarian Crisis 178 Syria Seen and Represented 192 Defying the Killers: The Emergence of Street Culture in Syria 206 Afterword 221 Palestine and Hope 222 Notes 231 Contributors 238 Acknowledgments 244 EBC,Converted At A Time When The Middle East Dominates Media Headlines More Than Ever - And For Reasons That Become Ever More Heartbreaking - Shifting Sands Brings Together Fifteen Impassioned And Informed Voices To Talk About A Region With Unlimited Potential, And Yet Which Can Feel, As One Writer Puts It, 'as Though The World Around Me Is On Fire'? Collecting Together The Thoughts And Insights Of Writers Who Live Or Have Deep Roots In There, Shifting Sands Takes A Look At Aspects Of The Middle East From The Catastrophic Long-term Effects Of The Carving Up Of The Region By The Colonial Powers After World War One To The Hopes And Struggles Of The Arab Spring In Relation To Egypt, Iran And Syria. And It Asks Questions Such As: What Is It Like To Be A Writer In The Middle East? What Does The Future Hold? And Where Do We Go From Here? For All Those Who Are Wearied By The Debates Surrounding The Middle East - Often At Best Ill-informed And At Worst, Defeatist Propaganda - This Intelligent, Reasoned Perspective On Life In The Middle East Is A Breath Of Fresh Air. A fresh look at the Middle East today, tomorrow and in the past: fifteen writers, with an introduction by Raja Shehadeh, author of the Orwell Prize.winning Palestinian Walks, and Penny Johnson