The Arab Psyche and American Frustrations

Every time that the US gets involved in the Middle East, or so it seems, things turn sour. With this thought in mind, the objective of this book is to help Americans and Europeans better understand how the Arabs view the world and why they behave the way that they do, their Arab psyche if you like. Along the way, the book provides those who are about to embark upon an adventure in the Arab world with a sketch of pleasures and pitfalls that await them. There are plenty of both. The...
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Every time that the US gets involved in the Middle East, or so it seems, things turn sour. With this thought in mind, the objective of this book is to help Americans and Europeans better understand how the Arabs view the world and why they behave the way that they do, their Arab psyche if you like. Along the way, the book provides those who are about to embark upon an adventure in the Arab world with a sketch of pleasures and pitfalls that await them. There are plenty of both. The search for the Arab psyche traces its evolution through the eras of tribalism, Islam, colonialism, flawed independence, resurgent Islam, global terror, and popular revolution. Each stage has left an indelible mark on the Arab psyche while adding new complexities to the way the Arabs attempt to cope with their ever changing world. American frustrations in dealing with the Arabs have increased apace. The book is written in a conversational tone and requires no prior knowledge of the Middle East. Monte Palmer is a political psychologist who has spent most of a long career studying Arab society and behavior. He is Professor Emeritus at Florida State University and a former Director of the Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies at the American University of Beirut. His recent books include THE POLITICS OF THE MIDDLE EAST, ISLAMIC EXTREMISM (with Princess Palmer,) and EGYPT AND THE GAME OF TERROR (a novel.)