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| DOI | 10.1111/j.1478-9302.2010.00217_9.x |
| Date | 01 September 2010 |
| Published date | 01 September 2010 |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
and clearly sets out its structure.In par ticular,Wenzhou’s
developmental mode provides an interesting case study
for speculation about the potentially favourable factors
for the democratic process in China.
Xiongwei Song
(University of Sheffield)
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The Arab–Israeli Conflict: A History by Ian J.
Bickerton. London: Reaktion Books, 2009. 244pp.,
£15.95, ISBN 978 1 86189 527 1
In the introduction to his history of the Arab–Israeli
conflict, Ian Bickerton hopes that he brings a sense of
‘detachment’ to the topic (p. 19). If by ‘detachment’ he
means a lack of bias, he disappoints himself, for the
narrative of this book does not read as particularly
balanced. Bickerton almost uncritically follows the
work of the ‘new’ Israeli historians, also known as
‘post-Zionists’ for their reassessment of the founding
myths of the Israeli state. Bickerton finds their work
‘compelling’ (p. 19) but does not properly indicate why
or consider any criticisms of their work.
Despite decrying each party’s use of rhetorical
devices to support their arguments (p. 41), he himself
regularly falls into this trap.Notwithstanding the size of
the book he also fails to discuss his conclusions on major
issues adequately. One example of this is that Israeli
Prime Minister Ehud Barak blamedYasser Arafat for the
breakdown of the 2001Taba talks,but ‘some accounts ...
suggest ... it was Barak who walked away from th e
negotiating table’ (p. 188). There are indeed many
accounts blaming each side, but none are discussed or
cited here. Similarly, at one point Bickerton mentions
that a report commissioned by President Clinton con-
cluded that Ariel Sharon’s 2001 visit to the Temple
Mount did not cause the second Intifada (p. 185),while
earlier stating that ‘many observers’claim that it did (pp.
34–5). (Expert obser vers,incidentally, generally do not.)
This lack of expertise is a weakness within the book
for it leads to sweeping statements that might support
his viewpoint but are not supported by evidence. One
glaring example is his statement that the defeat of
Likud by Labour in 1992 showed that the ‘majority of
Israelis were clearly ready for a new approach’ (pp.
166–7). In fact, more voters opted for right- than
left-wing parties; Likud was defeated by splits in the
right-wing block and not by any movement of the
electorate towards the left. Further, during the cam-
paign, Labour’s Yitzhak Rabin had tried to outflank
Likud from the right.
Consequently, this book contains no new informa-
tion for, as the author admits, it relies entirely on
secondary sources and is predominantly the work of
the aforementioned ‘new’ historians. While the book
is worth reading as a summary of their work, it is
likely to be of use only to those unfamiliar with the
topic, but not if it is the only book on the subject
that they read.
Robert Spain
(Independent Scholar)
The International Dimension of the Failed
Algerian Transition: Democracy Betrayed? by
Francesco Cavatorta. Manchester: Manchester
University Press, 2009. 210pp., £60.00, ISBN 978 0
7190 6167 9
The Middle East is seriously affected by problems.
Recent Arab Human Development reports show a
highly pessimistic picture of this particular region. At
the beginning of the twenty-first century, the com-
bined gross domestic product of 22 Arab countries did
not exceed the GDP of Spain. Taking economic
growth into consideration, even African countries have
higher rates than the Arab world. The demographic
outburst in this region is uncontrollable; existing
natural resources are not sufficient to ensure adequate
conditions for Arabs and therefore many of them are
ready to emigrate. Among the main causes of this
situation are the authoritarian, undemocratic systems
and unprofessional administration in the Middle
Eastern countries. Their underdevelopment, economic
backwardness, sense of frustration, poverty and con-
flicts, which cause thousands of deaths and devastation
of the infrastructure, destabilise this strategically impor-
tant region. Seen from another perspective, however,
446 OTHER AREAS
© 2010 TheAuthors. Journal compilation © 2010 Political Studies Association
Political Studies Review: 2010, 8(3)
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