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Author : B. Dolgov
Senior Research Associate, Center of Arab and Islamic Studies, Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian
Academy of Sciences, Candidate of Science (History)
THIS IS A COLLECTION of essays about
politicians who have been prominent in the Mid-
dle East in the period from the mid-20th century
to this day. The collection "Political Portraits of
the Statesmen of the Near and Middle East"*
launches a new research project at the Institute for
International Studies of the Moscow State Insti-
tute (University) of International Relations
(MGIMO), "Political Portraits."
The essays draw portraits of outstanding politi-
cians in Middle Eastern and international politics. The book might also stimulate more analysis
of the personal factor in history, especially in the history of Muslim societies, where great sig-
nificance is still attached to the role of charismatic leaders.
The authors of the articles are high-profile Russian scholars and diplomats many of whom have
repeatedly met with the politicians they describe and have been involved in decisions that have
affected policies in the Middle East.
The collection includes three articles about monarchs - Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al
Saud, who passed away early in 2015, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918-2004), founder
of the United Arab Emirates, and Jordanian King Hussein bin Talal (1935-1999), each of whom
played a significant role in his own country and in Arab and global politics in general. These
three articles were written respectively by Andrey Baklanov, a diplomat with the rank of ambas-
sador and an adviser to a deputy chairman of the Federation Council of Russia; Yury Zinin, an
Arabist and senior research officer at the Center for Partnership of Civilizations of the MGIMO
Institute for International Studies; and Vladimir Kedrov, an Arabist and veteran Russian jour-
nalist.
The collection of articles that we are presenting offers a unique opportunity to see the ultimate
causes and dynamics of various political developments in the Middle East.
http://interaffairs.ru
The Personae of Middle East Politics