Initial readings for Oxford International Politics Summer School 2012

First thing this morning I got an email from the Programme Coordinator for the books I need to purchase for my class - Political Transformation in the Contemporary Middle East.  So, I'll be spending a little time on Amazon today.  I usually get my required texts from Amazon becauase they are far less expensive than any college or university Book Store.  Here's what I'll be diving into first: 

• Tripp, Charles. A History of Iraq, third edition.  Cambridge University Press.  2007
• Aarts, Paul and Nonneman, Gerd (eds.).  Saudi Arabia in the Balance.  2005. 
• Lawson, Fred H. (ed.). Demystifying Syria.  2009.  

Also, if timing isn't everything, this article from the Associated Press on the status of the Arab Spring in the Virginian Pilot Online this morning. 

This is starting to feel very real.  It's hard to put into words what it means for me to be given this incredible opportunity to travel to Oxford University to take this class this summer.  I'm close to pulling together the funding to go, but am still a little short.  If anyone that reads this can help with a small donation (even $25 adds up), it will be greatly appreciated. 

You can donate on-line by clicking the button below or send a check made payable to Barry B. Butler to 26 Grove Terrace, Rustburg, VA 24588. 

So, what's the back story to why I'm doing this?  I've been wrestling with this for a while, on what to say and how to say it.  In my next post I'll get into this a bit more.