China and the Middle East Since World War II

With the emergence of China as a global power, Olimat examines Sino–Middle Eastern relations on a bilateral basis—2 general chapters and 15 country-specific chapters—and employs in his analysis a five-dimensional approach: energy security, trade relations, political relations, arms sales/security cooperation, and cultural relations. With the much heralded 'rise of China,' Olimat concludes that China has established multivariable ties around the globe and in the Middle East. Those ties require China's becoming increasingly involved in the region or, as he puts it, 'pivoting into' the area. He documents these ties in encyclopedic detail in the 15 country chapters and draws area-wide conclusions in the opening and closing general chapters. He organizes his analysis using China's 'Old Guard Period 1949-78' and 'Economic Reform Period 1978-current.' Olimat makes a convincing and effective case that the Middle East is strategically significant to China's national security, vital interests, territorial integrity, sovereignty, and economic prosperity. A specialized work but well done, this book belongs in all large academic libraries. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduate, graduate, and research collections. * Choice Reviews * This study represents an important contribution to the discussion of China's role in one of the world's most turbulent regions. As such, it should appear to both academics and practitioners. -- Dennis Hickey, Director of the Graduate Program in Global Studies, Missouri State University This book is an incisive and well-researched guide to the coming ‘Chinese Century’ in the Middle East. Professor Olimat maps the prospects as well as the geopolitical fault lines in politics, trade, security, culture, and energy. It is indispensable for anyone interested in the rapid transformations in this region. -- Thomas W. Smith, University of South Florida St. Petersburg China’s growing role in the Middle East is one of the most important developments in international relations in the twenty-first century. Despite the importance of this topic, it is surprisingly understudied and under-reported on. Consequently, Muhamad Olimat’s important new book, China and the Middle East Since World War Two: A Bilateral Approach , fills an important niche in the international relations literature. Professor Olimat is one of the few scholars writing in English who focuses on relations between China and the Middle East nations. A keen observer of both regions, he is well-positioned to offer us this important contribution to scholarship on China’s relations with the Middle East, and this book will undoubtedly be one of the key volumes students, scholars, and practitioners will turn to on this vitally important topic for many years to come. -- Gregory J. Moore, Zhejiang University