DC Public Library System

Yemen and the World, Beyond Insecurity, Laurent Bonnefoy ; translated by Cynthia Schoch

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 211-220) and index

maps

index present

non fiction

Yemen and the World

bibliography

1035464821

Laurent Bonnefoy ; translated by Cynthia Schoch

Comparative politics and international studies series

Beyond Insecurity

The influence of Yemen and its people extends far beyond its nominal borders, both historically and in the present day, as Laurent Bonnefoy revealsContemporary Yemen has an image problem. It has long fascinated travelers and artists, and to many embodies both Arab and Muslim authenticity; it stands at important geostrategic and commercial crossroads. Yet, strangely, global perceptions of Yemen are of an entity that is somehow both marginal and passive, yet also dangerous and problematic. The Saudi offensive launched in 2015 has made Yemen a victim of regional power struggles, while the global 'war on terror' has labelled it a threat to international security. This perception has had disastrous effects without generating real interest in the country or its people. On the contrary, Yemen's complex political dynamics have been largely ignored by international observers--resulting in problematic, if not counterproductive, international policies. Yemen and the World offers a corrective to these misconceptions and omissions, putting aside the nature of the world's interest in Yemen to focus on Yemen's role on the global stage. Laurent Bonnefoy uses six areas of modern international exchange--globalization, diplomacy, trade, migration, culture and militant Islamism--to restore Yemen to its place at the heart of contemporary affairs. To understand Yemen, he argues, is to understand the Middle East as a whole