The Making of the Middle East: Middle East Primer

Over the years many people have asked about the Middle East. What is this Islamism thing all about? Who are the Shi’ites? Why violence? What is the Iraq war about? Arab Spring??!

Going forward, I will be unrolling a series of short articles by way of beginning to answer some of these questions in a humble way. In particular I will do a little history, and go back in time— not too far — in order to provide some context to a region that was not born this way, but was made — like everywhere — by us and by them, (whoever “us” and “them” are). Watch…