Smoking, Culture and Economy in The Middle East : The Egyptian Tobacco Market 1850-2000

In this original and thought-provoking book, Relli Shechter examines the emergence of ‘modern’ markets in the complex social environment of the Middle East. Focusing on the tobacco market in Egypt, he looks at how markets interact with the society, politics and culture of the region. The history of Egypt's smoking habits - from the water pipe to the Marlboro - closely mirrors wider socio-economic developments in the country. Shechter begins his story by looking at the entrepreneurial Ottoman elite who produced luxury cigarettes for export worldwide. He then looks at the role of tobacco products in forming class consciousness in the domestic market, based on the idea that “you are what you smoke”. Finally he looks at the politics of smoking in the context of contemporary economic globalisation. Shechter engages energetically with cutting-edge social and economic theories in telling the story of Egypt's tobacco markets. The result is a fascinating book which contains a wealth of newly uncovered material. “Smoking, Culture and Economy in the Middle East” will stimulate and inform anyone interested in political economy, social change and the Middle East region. This book demonstrates how the history of Egypt's tobacco habits from the water pipe to the Marlboro Light mirrors wider socio-economic developments. Shechter begins in the mid 19th century, when tobacco was produced for export to the West and shows how in the early 20th century the marketing and consumption of tobacco reinforced social stratification. In the contemporary Middle East, Shechter finds that smoking habits have become intertwined with generational and identity politics. Engaging with cutting-edge social theory and a diverse range of source material, this is a stimulating and informative read. "In this book, Relli Shechter examines the emergences of 'modern' markets in the complex social environment of the Middle East. Focusing on the tobacco market in Egypt, he looks at how markets interact with the society, politics and culture of the region."--Jacket During the early sixteenth century, the European "age of discoveries" and an increase in international commerce led to the introduction of new staple commodities worldwide.