‘A proud, angry and hopeful rallying cry for democracy and human rights in the Middle East and North Africa. … Baghdadi and Gatnash provide an excellent primer on the history of the region, firmly rooting its current woes in the colonial experience.’ —The Irish TimesWhy is the Middle East a crisis factory, and how can it be fixed? What does the future look like for its 500 million people? And what role should the West play?Iyad El-Baghdadi and Ahmed Gatnash tell the story of the modern Middle East as a series of broken promises. They chart the entrenchment of tyranny, terrorism and foreign intervention, showing how these systems of oppression simultaneously feed off and battle each other. Exploring demographic, economic and social trends, the authors paint a picture of the region’s prospects that is alarming yet hopeful. Finally, they present ambitious and thoughtful ideas that reject both aggressive military intervention and cynical deals with dictators.This book, written by two children of the region, is about the failures of history, and the reasons for hope.The Middle East Crisis Factoryoffers a bold vision for those seeking peace and democracy in the Middle East.