Traditional cultures of the Middle East: the cradle of civilization and politics -- The foundations of Islam -- The political legacy of Islam, A.D. 632-1800 -- Western Imperialism, 1800-1914 -- The rise of the state system, 1914-1950 -- The drive for self-determination, 1950-1990 -- Turning points -- The politics of religion, culture, and social life -- Political elites -- Political leadership in the contemporary Middle East -- The economic setting -- International relations in the contemporary Middle East, 1945-1990 -- International relations in the contemporary Middle East, 1945-1990: the regional actors -- The Middle East and the changing international order, 1991-2001 -- Did 9/11 change everything?