MER Article Oil Politics in the Arab World Giacomo Luciani, The Oil Companies and the Arab World (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1984). Yusif Sayigh, Arab Oil Policies in the 1970s (London: Croom Helm, 1983). Abdulaziz al-Sowayegh, Arab Petro-Politics (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1984). David Howdon, ed., The Energy Crisis Ten Years Afte Michael Renner • 3 min read
MER Article Owen, Migrant Workers in the Gulf Roger Owen, Migrant Workers in the Gulf (London: Minority Rights Group, Report No. 68, 1985). Today, as oil prices plunge, the six million foreign workers in the Gulf are feeling the crunch. Roger Owen's new survey of Gulf migrant workers is especially welcome, for the future of Gulf societies i James Paul • 2 min read
MER Article Turner, Capitalism and Class in the Middle East Bryan S. Turner, Capitalism and Class in the Middle East: Theories of Social Change and Economic Development (Atlantic Highlands, NJ: Humanities Press, 1984). Danny Reachard • 2 min read
MER Article Kapuscinski, Shah of Shahs Ryszard Kapuscinski, Shah of Shahs (San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1985). Fred Halliday • 1 min read
MER Article Authoritarian States in the Third World Clive Thomas, The Rise of the Authoritarian State in Peripheral Societies (New York: Monthly Review Press, 1984). Anthony D. Smith, State and Nation in the Third World (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1983). Iftikhar Ahmad • 4 min read
MER Article The Last Days of 'Ali Nasir The full story of the bloody crisis that tore apart the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) in January 1986 has yet to be told, but more information is now becoming available on how President ‘Ali Nasir Muhammad was overthrown and forced to flee the country. Jean Gueyras • 11 min read
MER Article US Raid Haunts Libya Tripoli, June 1986—Two months after US warplanes bombed Tripoli, piles of rubble lie virtually untouched in the comfortable tree-lined neighborhood of Ben Ashour. An arch has been erected to commemorate the raid, displaying a gaudy painting of war planes on fire as they swoop down on innocent reside (Author not identified) • 7 min read
MER Article Pakistan and the Central Command Congress this fall will begin reviewing a new six-year US aid package to Pakistan totaling more than $4 billion. Crucial to the outcome is Pakistan’s military role in the Gulf. Pakistan’s military missions in 22 countries in the Middle East and Africa make it the largest exporter of military manpowe Jamal Rashid • 20 min read
MER Article Major Kurdish Organizations in Iraq Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Martin Van Bruinessen • 11 min read
MER Article Major Kurdish Organizations in Iran Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) Martin Van Bruinessen • 4 min read
MER Article The Kurds Between Iran and Iraq The news from Kurdistan is sad and grim. On both sides of the Iran-Iraq border, the central governments have been carrying out violent campaigns to bring the Kurdish districts under control and to wipe out the peshmergas (guerrilla fighters) of the various Kurdish organizations. This entails direct Martin Van Bruinessen • 31 min read
MER Article Changes at the Top Babrak Karmal was replaced as general secretary of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) six weeks after this series of articles first appeared. It was the first non-violent change in the party’s leadership since it came to power in April 1978. There is some evidence that the new lead Jonathan Steele • 2 min read
