“West Asia has always been a theatre of great power rivalry”
Amid rising geopolitical tensions, especially in the Gulf region, the book titled ‘West Asia at War’ by Talmiz Ahmad, former Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia, comes in as a guide to understand all that has been happening in the Middle East for the past couple of years. The book falls in the category of non-fiction, focusing on history, geopolitics, and International Relations (IR), and it was published in 2022. As we know, the area of West Asia has always been attracted by powerful countries, looking to exploit its rich natural resources. Moreover, colonial rule has also changed the region deeply. So, this book talks just about all these things. The book tells the story of how the region has been affected by foreign powers, colonial rule, and wars, from the past to the present. This book may come off as a heavy read for some readers, with each event discussed in too much detail. This book is more suited for students, academics, and researchers interested in knowing about the history of this region.
Although the primary focus of the book is on the events that followed the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers in the USA, it starts with a detailed overview of the past events in the West Asian region that led to the attack. The book starts with a chapter that outlines the key happenings in the region from the late 1700s to around the early 20th century. It tells us the rise of Arab nationalism and how regional identities were formed during the period. It also highlights the colonial rule in the Gulf region. The chapter ends with the discovery of oil in the Gulf and how the region gained strategic importance. Over the next couple of chapters, the author takes us through the major events like the formation of Israel, opposition to Western dominance, the 9/11 attack, resistance to US military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, Arab Spring uprisings in Sudan, Algeria, Lebanon, and Iraq. The concluding chapters focus on India’s ties with West Asia in recent years. This book mainly reflects on how the West Asian nations have interacted with Western powers, earlier Britain, and then the United States.
‘West Asia at War’ by former Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia, Talmiz Ahmad, stands out because of its comprehensive scope—it does not cover a particular country but talks about almost all the major players that influence the dynamics of the West Asian region.
The book is a compelling account of all that has happened in the region. The author’s strong understanding of the region can be easily witnessed in the elaborate and nuanced way in which the book has been written. Being an Ambassador serving in the region, his first-hand experiences and perspectives also help the readers gain a powerful insight into the region’s internal political cultures, motivations of regional readers, and behind-the-scenes diplomacy. Moreover, another thing that draws this book out from the many others written about the region is its clear and accessible writing. Despite dealing with the complex geopolitical dynamics of the West Asian region, this book is well-structured. He has avoided the use of jargon, which makes it an easy read for anyone who wants to delve deeper into the history of the region.
This book stands out because of its comprehensive scope- it does not cover a particular country but talks about almost all the major players that influence the dynamics of the West Asian region. The theme of the book is balanced and well-structured. He explores strong structural issues like identity politics, the failure of the Arab state system, and a major shift from ideological to interest-based alignments.
However, there were a few shortcomings in the book, which are worth pointing out. The book may be a little too overwhelming at times. Although the book is rich in detail, some sections may feel dense and information-heavy, especially for someone not familiar with the region. Also, there are limited voices from within. The book lacks a personal touch in the form of anecdotes, interviews, and personal interactions, which could have been added, given the author’s high position in an important country in the Gulf. While the political and ideological factors are well-covered in the book, there is less attention on the economic activities of the region during this period.
Talmiz Ahmad brings his rich subject knowledge of the area, with his hands-on experiences, into the book, making it valuable for anyone trying to understand the region in-depth.
In conclusion, this is a good read for anyone who’s seeking an in-depth knowledge of the region, be it the history or how it came to be what it is today. The book provides a comprehensive, well-articulated, and timely analysis of how the region evolved into its current state. Talmiz Ahmad brings his rich subject knowledge of the area, with his hands-on experiences, into the book, making it valuable for anyone trying to understand the region in-depth. With rising geopolitical tensions in the region—from Iran-Israel conflict to Gulf normalisation efforts—the book remains relevant. This book is a perfect guide for students, academics, researchers, or just anyone who’s seeking to learn more about the region.
Book Title: West Asia at War
Author: Talmiz Ahmad
Publishers: HarperCollins India (2022)
Pages: 544
Price: ₹539 (Hardcover)
SW Ratings: ****1/2
Archita Gaur is a postgraduate student at the School of International Studies, JNU. She specialises in the World Economy and has a strong interest in public policy, economic research, and governance. The views expressed are the author’s own.
Vibha Hareesh 
Raghvendra Tripathi 
Balaji Subramanian