State and economics in the Middle East : a society in transition

Modern sociology has only just begun to develop instru ments and measuring rods for closely observing and registering the social changes brought about by the contact with foreign civilisa tions. It is only during the last few decades that current and regularly compiled statistics have become available, and even these are in complete and deficient. Another shortcoming, though of a more technical nature, is the length of time that has elapsed between the completion of this book and its publication. Written during the early war period, the book covers developments only up to that date. But this handicap is probably common to many present-day volumes.

The economic and social problems of this region, rendered acute by the war, induced me, in 1943, to devote a special study to the subject of Middle Eastern reconstruction.* In view of the urgency of the task I confined myself to outlining the economic potentialities of the region, being well aware of the limitations of such an investigation at a time when post-war trends in the economic and political spheres were still uncertain.

Unlike that attempt, which looked towards the future, the present book is retrospective in character. It deals with the prob lems and changes of the Middle-Eastern scene, beginning with the first half of the nineteenth century and leading up to the history of our own days. Each of the four main Parts is sub-divided into two sections, of which the first is an analysis of the static features, while the second dwells upon the signs and problems of transition. A Postscript has been added, which touches upon the latest, that is, the post-war, trends.