Anthropology of the Middle East

This special issue focuses on the Arab Spring and the growing interest of China in the Middle East through an interdisciplinary view of political philosophy, sociology, and anthropology. It transcends binaries, including East versus West, security versus economy, to examine how China practices its relationships to build order based on the ideas of he 和 (harmony), li 礼 (ritual propriety), ren 仁 (humaneness), and wangdao 王道 (humane rulership). Reborn civilizational concepts, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and mediation efforts that led to the Saudi–Iran Reconciliation Agreement, have fostered credibility, connectivity, and trade. This special issue aims to aid in understanding Middle Eastern security and development in the twenty-first century, as well as China's role as a world power.

This article examines China's shift from economic partner to diplomatic mediator in the Middle East through an anthropological and cultural political economy lens. Focusing on China's role in the 2023 Saudi–Iranian de-escalation, it asks how a culturally informed strategy shapes Beijing's mediation and regional power dynamics. The findings show that China draws on Confucian ideas of harmony (héxié, 和谐), non-interference, Silk Road legacies, and sensitivity to local cultural systems, including kinship structures and negotiation rituals, to present itself as a neutral mediator distinct from Western interventionism. The Belt and Road Initiative strengthens this role by linking investment with cultural diplomacy. China's approach enhances trust, protects energy interests, expands influence, and contributes to emerging multipolarity in the Middle East.

This article examines Tunisia's tourism transformation before and after the 2011 Arab Spring revolution, exploring the interrelationship between political transition and tourism industry resilience. Drawing on documentary analysis of official data, government reports, and scholarly literature, it examines how emerging markets, especially China, supported Tunisia's recovery. Results demonstrate the sector's vulnerability to political instability and terrorism, alongside adaptation through market diversification. While European markets recovered partially, Asian markets, especially China, offset substantial losses. Tunisia's democratic transition facilitated international cooperation and security improvements. The article identifies policy implications for sustainable tourism development during political transitions, with recommendations applicable to Mediterranean and MENA countries facing similar challenges.

The role of infrastructure is not limited to the material aspect alone; it extends to strengthening social cohesion and building trust between citizens and the government. Ultimately, investing in infrastructure is an investment in people – it unleashes creative and innovative potential, transforms challenges into opportunities and makes infrastructure a fundamental pillar for any society striving for progress and prosperity. This article examines the role of the Belt and Road Initiative and its associated infrastructure projects in social progress among citizens. particularly in countries where the Initiative is being implemented.

This article examines the cultural dimensions of bilateral relations between Tehran and Beijing, assessing existing capacities, initiatives, and the future trajectory of cultural engagement. It explores the strategic role of cultural diplomacy in shaping modern Iran–China relations. The research highlights a history of cultural cooperation, with shared social and normative values. However, it finds that cultural diplomacy remains underused in strengthening bilateral ties. The article concludes that a more structured cultural strategy could enhance mutual cooperation and deepen future relations between the two nations.

Relations between Arab countries and China have increased over the last two decades. This began with the strengthening of trade relations, then expanded to cultural and educational dimensions, and ultimately branched into industrial and technological ties. Examining how the Arab world is opening up to China, this article aims to explore the current trends in these relations. It finds that there are numerous opportunities for cooperation and rapprochement between the two sides. However, rapprochement at the government level faces several obstacles, including strong ties between Arab governments and the United States, which exerts diplomatic pressure to prevent its allies in the Arab world from deepening relations with China. At the popular level, rapprochement also faces barriers such as negative religious or political stereotypes about China.

This article examines how Middle Eastern states conceive and perform symbolic national roles within the regional security complex. Integrating regional security complex theory with national role conception and anthropological approaches, it argues that symbolic performances – from architecture and mediation rituals to revolutionary commemorations and humanitarian diplomacy – are constitutive of security politics. Through discourse analysis of seven cases (Iran, Israel, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and the UAE), the article demonstrates how states use roles that shape threat perceptions, regional alignments and domestic legitimacy. Each case utilises a distinct symbolic repertoire to negotiate internal anxieties and shape the regional environment. Framing these actions as performative foregrounds the cultural dimensions of state behaviour and highlights symbolic statecraft as a strategic tool for navigating rivalry and projecting identity.

Edith Szanto, Twelver Shi'i Self-Flagellation Rites in Contemporary Syria: Mourning Sayyida Zaynab (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2025), Advances in the Study of Islam series. 253 pp., 8 ills, ISBN: 978-1-3995-4828-1 (hardback), ISBN: 978-1-3995-4829-8 (web PDF), ISBN: 978-1-3995-4830-4 (epub), all $110.00.