Three Essays on the Middle East

In his most recent essay self-identified Trotskyist Tariq Ali provides a more informed and coherent perspective on the current situation in the Middle East than any number of self-identified liberals, conservatives, and libertarians who have written on the subject and with whom readers may be more conversant. It seems to me that he doesn’t force his analysis and conclusions to fit the Marxist doctrines that he holds. And what I found very welcome was that his essay reflects an extensive knowledge of the history of the region and some keen insights into recent events and is not imbued by one or other variant of American nationalism. Classical liberals and libertarians should resist the temptation to write from a nationalist perspective but should embrace the cosmopolitanism that was once the hallmark of real liberal doctrine. It is sad that real liberals too often leave that universalism to Marxists.

I encourage you to read his essay, Mid-Point in the Middle East?, published in the new issue of New Left Review. The PDF version is here.

Also available for non-subscribers are Yoav Peled’s analysis of Viginia Tilley’s The One-State Solution: A Breakthrough for Peace in the Israeli-Palestinian Deadlock (2005), Zionist Realities: Debating Israel—Palestine, and Tilley’s reply, The Secular Solution: Debating Israel—Palestine. PDF versions are available here (Peled) and here (Tilley). At first glance, they look well worth reading if you are interested in the Israeli—Palestinian question. I look forward to reading them carefully.