The Modern History of Iraq is a remarkably readable account of contemporary Iraq, placing in historical perspective the crises and upheavals that continue to afflict the country. This text weaves together several important themes, including the search for a national identity, the struggle to achieve social and economic development, the changes in political dynamics, and the impact of foreign interventions, to provide readers with a holistic understanding of modern Iraq. Revised and updated throughout, the fourth edition features more discussion of cultural identity and media and society. In addition, this edition includes two new chapters on the events and shifts in the country of the early twenty-first century-the US intervention and withdrawal, the stabilization and subsequent unraveling of the Maliki government, the effects of the Arab uprisings, and the rise of ISIS-and their political, economic, and social consequences. Written by noted Iraq scholar Phebe Marr with new co-author Ibrahim al-Marashi, this text is essential reading for readers who seek to understand modern Iraq in the context of historical perspective.
Industry Reviews
Praise for Previous Editions: "I have been using Phebe Marr's The Modern History of Iraq in my upper-division undergraduate courses for years. The students have always enjoyed the book as a compendium of information and facilitator of discussion. It is detailed, yet not too pedantic, and it is readable without sacrificing academic integrity. Her third edition is most welcome, as the time elapsed since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 has allowed for insight and interpretation into the events surrounding the invasion and its important aftermath. While there are many books on Iraq that have come out since 2003, none have the combination of coverage and recent and current events situated within the modern history of Iraq going back two centuries. One cannot begin to comprehend the Iraq of today without a thorough understanding of its historical context, and Marr's book expertly provides both." --David W. Lesch, Professor of Middle East History, Trinity University, author of The Middle East and the United States "This book aims to present a 'clear, readable one-volume account of the emergence of modern Iraq and the forces that shaped it.' Marr (member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Middle East Institute) accomplishes the formidable task with the best one-volume study of the subject in English...A very valuable, comprehensive, informative, balanced, objective study, with excellent bibliography, notes, and charts. Highly recommended." --Choice "This is a tour de force of the history of modern Iraq, probably the most turbulent history in the 20th century Middle East... This is a highly intricate political, social and economic history, yet Marr's account remains fluent and lucid throughout. Reading the book is sheer pleasure also because it brings together profound understanding of the people and the land, filling many gaps in our knowledge and creating a rich tapestry that is rarely seen in contemporary historical literature." --Amatzia Baram, University of Haifa; Senior Fellow at the US Institute of Peace "This comprehensive work provides a wealth of detail and acute insights into the evolution of modern Iraq while remaining readable and clear in style and structure. It should prove indispensable for academics and students as well as for journalists and policy-makers seeking to understand the development of contemporary Iraq." --Bernard Reich, George Washington University "The Modern History of Iraq is a solid work of historical research, well-written and extremely well-organized, rich in content and texture, compact, easy to read, and totally free of bias... a clear and readable one-volume account of the emergence of the new state and the forces that created it." --Jerusalem Post Magazine "The best one-volume work on Iraq in English, or in any other language of which I am aware... The comprehensive coverage of Iraq's economic and social history, as well as the political, will be welcome d by people interested in the Middle East, lay and specialist alike." --Middle East Journal "Marr has written an authoritative work that meets a great need: an up-to-date, readable, and comprehensive treatment of recent Iraqi history." --AAPSS Annals "The author has specialized in the study of Iraq for some years and this is evident in the authority of the scholarship that is presented here. Utilizing primary and secondary sources in Arabic and interviews with key personalities extending over some years, the analysis is sound and persuasive." --American Arab Affairs "(Marr) has thus produced a fine example of history at its best. In fact, this may well be the best book on modern Iraq now available... Moreover, Marr has written her book in a style easily accessible to students and nonspecialists. The more informed reader will benefit from the wealth of material brought together in one volume." --Frank Tachau, University of Illinois, Chicago
