Description

Yemen is in the grip of its most severe crisis in years. The civil war between the Huthi rebels and the Western and Arab supporters of the regime has resulted in thousands killed and three million displaced. Those who remain suffer severe food shortages and a collapsed economy. The struggle for power in the Arab world’s poorest but strategically vital nation has serious implications for the region and beyond. While Egypt and Saudi Arabia fear that a Huthi takeover would threaten free passage of oil through the Bab al-Mandab strait, western governments fear a rise of attacks from al-Qa’ida and IS as the country becomes more unstable. In this invaluable analysis, Helen Lackner uncovers the social and political conflicts that threaten the very survival of the state and its people. She reveals the corruption of the country’s US-backed autocratic regime and how it failed to address national impoverishment and to plan an equitable economy for Yemen’s growing population.

Publisher Review

`A fascinating description of the shift from a traditional world ... to a modern society.' New York Review of Books; `Comprehensive and in-depth, backed up by statistics and enriched with [Lackner's] own insights into the major political, social and economic transformations of half a century.' The Jordan Times; `Lackner's book provides crucial background and detail which can help untangle this complex picture.' Socialist Review; `An outstanding book that provides answers to all of the questions raised by Yemen's many crises since 2011. Written with compassion and insight, Lackner confirms her standing as the foremost authority on Yemeni politics at work today.' Eugene Rogan, University of Oxford; `A superb book written by an outstanding author whose knowledge of Yemen is unparalleled. She combines elegant writing with incisive and lucid analysis to reveal the political, economic and social causes of Yemen's instability and the origins of its current crisis. Both specialists and those new to the country will find this book an indispensable guide to understanding Yemen's profound and tragic problems - and what its future holds for its people, the region and internationally.' Dr Noel Brehony CMG, former Chairman British-Yemeni Society; `Few scholars would be better suited to review Yemen's recent history ... [Lackner's] first-hand experience and long-term involvement in the country's fortunes have provided her with unique insights into its social, political and economic development. ... Immensely valuable ... [Lackner's] representations are balanced, erudite and objective. Of all the books that have been published in recent years on Yemen's post-2011 crisis and its historical roots, this stands out.' Marieke Brandt, Institute for Social Anthropology (ISA), Austrian Academy of Sciences, LSE blog