The Arabs: A History by Eugene Rogan

Review by Brianna Chavez-Kelly
Review by Zach Willis

The short:

The Arabs provide as close to a complete history of the modern Arab world as is available. Beginning in the 16th Century and moving until the rise of ISIL, the book expertly details the political happenings across the Middle East and North Africa, from Morocco to Turkey.

The long:

While no single book can come close to encapsulating the whole of MENA’s political history, this one is a great place to start. Although it can occasionally lose itself in tangents and asides, The Arabs provide enough narrative to avoid feeling dry while still presenting a well-researched and academic history. Above all, Rogan is especially adroit at teasing out historical connections, leaving the reader with an enhanced picture of what has happened in the past and how it affects the present day. 

Eugene Rogan, author of The Arabs: A History, criticizes the power struggle that Arabs have faced over the last five centuries. It characterizes these power struggles throughout the history of the Ottoman Empire, the effects of British imperialism on the emerging hegemon of the United States. It goes as far as recognizing the vulnerability that Arabs face from differences in geopolitics to interfaith relations. Overall, it serves an amazing job at understanding the complexities of current issues in the Arab world. 

The read or not to read:

A definite read! It provides fundamental background knowledge of Arab history and the power dynamics that have occurred in the past five centuries. 

Read! This book is especially good for those relatively unfamiliar with the region but looking to engage with it in an academic manner. Whether you are looking to understand the historical underpinnings of Middle East politics or are interested in how regional dynamics came to be, this book is an absolute must-read.