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"Food and drink has been a focal point of modern social theory since the inception of agrarian capitalism and the industrial revolution. From Adam Smith to Mary Douglas, major thinkers have used key concepts like identity, exchange, culture, and class to explain the modern food system. Food, Politics, and Society offers a historical and sociological survey of how these various ideas, and the practices that accompany them, have shaped our understanding and organization of the production, processing, preparation, serving, and consumption of food and drink in modern societies. Divided into twelve chapters and drawing on a wide range of historical and empirical illustrations, this book provides a concise, informed, and accessible survey of the interaction between social theory and food and drink. It is perfect for courses in a wide range of disciplines"--Provided by publisher

What is cosmopolitanism and how did and does it operate in the Middle East? How does the term apply to persons, milieus and ideologies? Sami Zubaida argues that cosmopolitanism is connected with certain lifestyles, that cross communal boundaries and stimulate the making of eclectical choices between elements of different cultures. Milieus in which these lifestyles flourish are usually produced by empires which bring together diverse peoples and cultures. Social mobility and the rise of a separate class of intellectuals are other preconditions for the adoption of a cosmopolitan attitude. In this paper Zubaida traces the historical instances of cosmopolitanism in the Middle East, its present condition and future prospects. He demonstrates that it is a rare and highly vulnerable phenomenon that goes against the grain of most modern homogenizing trends in politics and culture. (RECIPE/DÜI)

Langohr, Vickie: Experiments in multi-ethnic and multi-religious democracy. - S. 4-7 Zubaida, Sami: Communalism and thwarted aspirations of Iraqi citizenship. - S. 8-11 Meijer, Roel: The association of muslim scholars in Iraq. - S. 12-19 Jones, Toby: The Iraq effect in Saudi Arabia. - S. 20-25 Silverstein, Paul: States of fragmentation in North Asia. - S. 26-33 Alagha, Joseph: Hizballah after the Syrian withdrawal. - S. 34-39 Shaery-Eisenlohr, Roschanack: 'Ajamis in Lebanon: the non-Arab Arabs?. - S. 40-41 Bayat, Kaveh: The ethnic question in Iran. - S. 42-45