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History General

Don't Panic

ISIS, Terror and Today's Middle East

by (author) Gwynne Dyer

Publisher
Random House of Canada
Initial publish date
Oct 2015
Category
General, Middle Eastern, 21st Century
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780345815866
    Publish Date
    Oct 2015
    List Price
    $22.00

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Description

It took a quarter-century of bad strategy, including more than a dozen years of Western air attacks and invasions in the Middle East, to bring the so-called "Islamic State" into existence. Can we somehow manage to avoid the well-trodden path of overreacting to the provocations of Islamist extremists?
With the rise of ISIS, a new style of terrorism that publicly gloats over acts of extreme cruelty has reawakened the fears of the global audience. But in Don't Panic, Gwynne Dyer argues that the advent of "Islamic State" and its clones does not substantially raise the risk of major terrorist attacks in Western countries. It does, however, pose a grave threat to the Arab countries of the Middle East.
In Don't Panic, Dyer first explains why the Middle East has become the global capital of terrorism. He then examines how terrorist organisations in the Arab world have evolved over time, with particular emphasis on the events of the past fifteen years and the current situation in Syria and Iraq. And in the end Dyer departs from his long-standing position that foreign interventions always make matters worse to argue that a little military intervention of the right kind may avert a genocide in Syria.
"When my information changes, I alter my conclusions," said John Maynard Keynes. "What do you do, sir?"

About the author

Originally from St. John's, NL, Gwynne Dyer is an admired journalist, columnist, broadcaster, and lecturer on international affairs. His documentary television series on the history of War was nominated for an Academy Award; his twice-weekly column on international affairs appears in 175 newspapers in 45 countries and is translated into more than a dozen languages. He is currently based in London, UK.

Gwynne Dyer's profile page

Editorial Reviews

“If you want to become knowledgeable about the current situation in the Middle East and ISIS politics, read Don’t Panic.” —Nelson Star

“If you’re interested in the ISIS question, pick up Don’t Panic: ISIS, Terror and Today’s Middle East, by Gwynne Dyer, a chatty, crystal-clear read.” —Ottawa Magazine