In 'A Peace to End All Peace', David Fromkin unravels the intricate web of events that led to the creation of the modern Middle East after World War I. With compelling narratives, Fromkin reveals how the decisions made by imperial powers set the stage for decades of conflict. This historical analysis not only highlights the reckless diplomacy of the time but also exposes the enduring consequences of these choices on today's geopolitical landscape. As tensions rise in the region, the book prompts readers to ponder: can any lasting peace ever truly emerge from such a fractured legacy? Dive into this thought-provoking exploration of history, power, and the quest for stability in a tumultuous world.
By David Fromkin
Published: 2009
"The tangled web of promises and betrayals woven during World War I not only shaped the fate of nations but also carved the very identity of the Middle East, pulling the threads of history into a tapestry of complexity and conflict."
Published with a new afterword from the author—the classic, bestselling account of how the modern Middle East was created The Middle East has long been a region of rival religions, ideologies, nationalisms, and ambitions. All of these conflicts—including the hostilities between Arabs and Israelis, and the violent challenges posed by Iraq's competing sects—are rooted in the region's political inheritance: the arrangements, unities, and divisions imposed by the Allies after the First World War. In A Peace to End All Peace, David Fromkin reveals how and why the Allies drew lines on an empty map that remade the geography and politics of the Middle East. Focusing on the formative years of 1914 to 1922, when all seemed possible, he delivers in this sweeping and magisterial book the definitive account of this defining time, showing how the choices narrowed and the Middle East began along a road that led to the conflicts and confusion that continue to this day. A new afterword from Fromkin, written for this edition of the book, includes his invaluable, updated assessment of this region of the world today, and on what this history has to teach us.
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“The tangled web of promises and betrayals woven during World War I not only shaped the fate of nations but also carved the very identity of the Middle East, pulling the threads of history into a tapestry of complexity and conflict.”
A Peace to End All Peace
By David Fromkin
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
David Fromkin is an acclaimed American author and historian known for his insightful explorations of international relations and history. His notable works include 'A Peace to End All Peace,' which examines the complex origins of the modern Middle East, and 'Europe's Last Summer,' a detailed account of the events leading up to World War I. Fromkin's writing is characterized by its rigorous research, narrative clarity, and ability to engage readers with vivid storytelling, bridging academic scholarship and accessible prose.
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