ac know ledg ments xiInstitute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University of Jeru-
salem, especially Amnon, Avi, Cecil, Riccardo, and Tirza, off ered me a
good working environment. The acrimonious debates at the Institute for
Defense Studies and Analyses, where I briefl y worked, infl uenced my
thinking on contemporary developments in the Middle East.
It was my fi eld trip to Israel in 1988, which was generously sponsored
by Jawaharlal Nehru University, that opened up my horizon. I am thank-
ful to the Truman Institute for being my academic home during my long
stays in Israel.
When I was down and out, numerous friends have provided encour-
agement and moral support. They include Atul Kumar, Atul Mishra,
G. V. C. Naidu, L iat Peretz, Narasaiah, P. Ventakeswaran, Pat haks, Rajesh
and Raji, Ranjita Das, Sima Baidya, T. Sreedhar Rao, Uri and Navah
Ramon, V. Rajagopal, and V. Ramakrishanan.
Since joining JNU in 1999, my graduate students have given me com-
fort and stimulation and have often enabled me to sharpen my under-
standing of the Middle East. Special mention is reserved for Bhupendra
Kumar Singh and Khinv Raj, who helped me solve innumerable problems
along the way. On numerous occasions, my colleagues, especially Girijesh
Pant, Gulshan Dietl, and P. C. Jain, gave me a helping hand.
Since the late 1980s, I have enjoyed stimulating intellectual exchanges
with my peers, especially Professor Irene Eber. In between her moving
house, proofreading, and or ga niz ing conferences, she painstakingly went
over my manuscript. Master and Naomi have made many of my week-
ends a delightful diversion. For nearly two de cades, my friend D. Shyam
Babu has remained a great source of inspiration, intellectual honesty,
and professionalism.
When many others were reluctant, Anne Routon had faith in me and
saw this manuscript through its stages of publication. She made working
with Columbia University Press a plea sure. Thanks, my friend. My grati-
tude also goes to my three anonymous reviewers; their inputs have made
this a better book. Thanks also to Robert Fellman for his im mensely
detailed and very thoughtful copyediting.
My parents- in- law and Lin Xiaozhong and Lin Tong have been gener-
ous with their kindness and aff ection.
All my life, I have enjoyed the love and aff ection of my grandparents,
my late mother, Sreedhar, Jayanthi, and Ravi Mama. Appa has been my
friend, phi los o pher, and guide and, despite all my limitations and short-
comings, he has retained his abiding faith in me.