The Atlas of the Near East offers an in-depth examination of the economic, social, and demographic dynamics of the Arab Near East, defined here as Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine, in the period from 1918 to 2010. It discusses the central problem of aridity, the effects of foreign domination, Arab nationalism, Baʿathism, and communitarianism. It addresses the makeup of the population, the region’s development, economic issues, cities, and urban areas. It assesses the partition of Palestine and the geography of the Occupied Territories, and concludes with a chapter on the geopolitics of the Near East. With numerous maps, charts, and data published for the first time, it is key to a comprehensive understanding of the region.
Fabrice Balanche (PhD in geography, 2000) is associate professor and research director at the University of Lyon II since 2007, and visiting fellow at The Washington Institute (2015-2017). His publications include Geopolitics of the Middle East (2014, in French), Atlas of the Arab Near East (2012, in French and Arabic), and the book version of his thesis, The Alawite Region and Syrian Power (2006, in French).
Introduction
Menacing Aridity
Foreign Domination
National Constructs
Population and Development
A Fragile Economy
The Urban Archipelago of the Near East
Palestine Partitioned
The Geopolitics of the Near East
Conclusion
Bibliography
Glossary
Those interested in the history of the Near East (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine), geography, economic development, urbanisation and geopolitics.