York Public Library to present a series on the Middle East this summer
YORK VILLAGE - Few regions in the world provoke more interest, controversy, passions or international crises and conflicts than the Middle East.The region has held great significance since the beginning of recorded history as a center of ancient civilizations, the birthplace of the three major monotheistic religions and the cauldron of world power politics. Its importance remains undiminished to this day.
To provide a public forum for thoughtful discourse on current issues related to the Middle East, the York Public Library and the South Berwick Public Library have joined together to sponsor Behind the Headlines: An Introduction to the Middle East.
This series, presented at the York Public Library on three Fridays in July, offers participants the opportunity to explore the dynamics of Middle East politics and the forces that have helped shape them over the last century.
Professor Mahmud Faksh from the faculty of the University of Southern Maine will lead the program. Knowledgeable, interesting, and approachable, Faksh has a gift for making complicated situations and histories understandable.
"The Contemporary Middle East," edited by Arthur Goldschmidt and Shibley Tehami, is a recently published anthology that will provide the basis for the discussions. It contains articles by leading scholars, observers and foreign policy analysts on a wide range of issues and provides even those with no previous background in the Middle East with an integrated and accessible introduction to basic topics in current Middle East affairs.
Each of the three sessions will begin with a talk by Professor Faksh on the articles read for that session, followed by a discussion with questions and answers and, most importantly, an exchange of ideas.
Session 1 on July 7 is "A Brief History of the Middle East and the Israeli/Palestinian Quest for Peace." Session 2 on July 14 will focus on "Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and Stability and the Islamist Challenge." Session 3 on July 28 examines "Iraq and Iran: War, Revolution and Coherence, and American Foreign Policy in the Middle East." Each event will be held from noon to 2 p.m.
Behind the Headlines is part of the Maine Humanities Council's "Let's Talk About It" series and is made possible by grant from the council. The council's mission is to engage the people of Maine in the power and pleasure of ideas.
For information and registration, call the York Public Library at 363-2818. Multiple copies of the book "The Contemporary Middle East" are available on loan from the library when you register.
