C. Reviews and notes: bibliographies and works of reference

i. ISLAMIC BOOK REVIEW INDEX. Compiled by Wolfgang H. Behn Berlin, Adiyok. Vol.2, 1983, pp.239; Vol.3, 1984, pp.234. Each DM 60.

ii. L'ORIENT DES PROVENÇAUX DMNS L'HISTOIRE. Marseille, Archives Departementales, Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie, 1982. pp.472.

iii. TUNISIA. By Allan M. Findlay, Anne M.Findlay & R.I.Lawless. (World Bibliographical Series, 33). Oxford & Santa Barbara, Clio Press, 1982. pp.xxviii, 251, map. £28.

iv. INDEX ISLAMICUS 1976–1980. Part 1: ARTICLES, compiled by J.D.Pearson. Part 2: MONOGRAPHS, compiled by J.D.Pearson & Wolfgang BEHN London, Mansell, 1983. 2 vols. pp.xliii, 539, xii, 348. Pt.1 £45; Pt.2 £30.

v. EXPOSITION: LETTRES ET VISAGES DU LIBAN ET DE L'ORIENT, organisée par PHILIPPE DUVOLLET avec la collaboration de la Délégation Permanente du Liban auprès de l'UNESCO. Paris, AGECOOP, 1983. pp.137.

vi. DAS ARABISCHE BUCH: THE ARAB BOOK. EINE AUSSTELLUNG ARABISCHER HANDSCHRIFTEN DER CHESTER BEATTY LIBRARY, DUBLIN...AUS ANLASS DES EURO‐ARABISCHEN DIALOGES, KULTURELLES SYMPOSIUM 1983: AN EXHIBITION OF ARABIC MANUSCRIPTS FROM THE CHESTER BEATYY LIBRARY, DUBLIN...ON THE OCCASION OF THE EURO‐ARAB DIALOGUE, CULTURAL SYMPOSIUM APRIL 1983. By David James. Dublin, Chester Beatty Library, 1983. pp.34.

vii. SAUDI MEDICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY. By M.Monir Madkour and Aida J. Kudwah. Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone, 1983. Vol.I, 1887–1980, pp.284, £35.00; Vol.II, 1981 & 1982, pp.269, £30.00.

viii. LUCHTMANS & BRILL: DRIEHONDERD JAAR UTTGEVERS EN DRUKKERS IN LEIDEN 1683–1983: CATALOGUS VAN DE TENTOONSTELLING GEHOUDEN VAN l SEPTEMBER TOT 1 OKTOBER 1983 IN BET GEMEENTE‐ARCHIEF TE LEIDEN. Leiden, Brill, 1983. pp.74. Plates & illustrations.

ix. PHILOLOGIA ORIENTALIS: A DESCRIPTION OF BOOKS ILLUSTRATING THE STUDY AND PRINTING OF ORIENTAL LANGUAGES IN EUROPE. II. SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. (Catalogue 524.) Leiden, Brill, 1983. pp.220. Facsimiles & type‐specimens.

x. ISLAMIC MOVEMENTS IN EGYPT, PAKISTAN AND IRAN: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY. By Asaf Hussain. London, Mansell, 1983. pp.xiv, 168. £16.50.

xi. THE SUBLIME QUR'AN AND ORIENTALISM. By Mohammad Khalifa. London, Longman, 1983. pp.xviii, 262. £11.95.

xii. THE UNIVERSALITY OF ISLAM: a REFUTATION OF HOSTILE CRITICISM By ORIENTALISTS. By Nur‐Ud‐Din Muneer. London, London Mosque, 1983. pp.iv, 26.

xiii. ISLAMIC STUDIES, ORIENTALISTS AND MUSLIM SCHOLARS. By S.Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi. Translated by Mohiuddin Ahmad. Lucknow, Academy of Islamic Research and Publications, 1983. pp.11, 64. Indian Rs.6.

xiv. FAHARIS MAKHTUTAT AL‐KHIZANA AL‐HASANIYYA HASABA ARQAMI‐HA ‘ALA AL‐RUFUF (1). Tasnif MUHAMMAD AL‐MANUUNI. Rabat, al‐Matba'a al‐Malakiyya, 1403/1983. pp.23 + 315.

xv. L'ÉGYPTIEN TEL QU'ON L'ÉCRIT: GLOSSAIRE ÉTABLI D'APRES UN CHOIX D'OEUVRES LITTÉRAIRES ÉGYPTIENNES CONTEMPORAINES. Compiled by Charles Vial. (Textes Arabes et Études Islamiques, Tome XVIII) Cairo, Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale du Caire, 1983. pp.xxiii, 382.

xvii. IMMIGRANTS, MINORITIES AND RACE RELATIONS: A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THESES AND DISSERTATIONS PRESENTED AT BRITISH AND IRISH UNIVERSITIES 1900–1981. By Victor F. Gilbert and Darshan Singh Tatla, with an introduction by Colin Holmes. London and New York, Mansell, 1984. pp.153. £13.50.

xviii. SOCIAL STRATIFICATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA: A BIBLIOGRAPHIC SURVEY. By Ali Banuazizi, with the assistance of Prouchestia Goodarzi. London and New York, Mansell Publishing Ltd., 1984. xviii, pp.248. £18.00.

xix. THE YEMENS. Compiled by G.Rex Smith. (World Bibliographical Series, 50). Oxford, Clio Press, 1984. pp.161, 1 map. Price £20.75.

xx. THE ROLE OF NATIONAL LIBRARIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SAUDI ARABIA. By Abdulaziz Mohamed Al‐Nahari. London & New York, Mansell, 1984. pp.166. £18.50.     

International Criminal Courts and Political Reconciliation

In A Moral Theory of Political Reconciliation, Colleen Murphy devotes a full chapter to arguing that international criminal trials make significant contributions to political reconciliation within post-conflict and transitional societies. While she is right to claim that these trials serve an important function, I take issue with her with respect to what that important function is. Whereas Murphy focuses on the contributions international criminal prosecutions might make to political reconciliation within the borders of transitional societies, I claim instead that their primary function is to restore order at the international level and to dispense justice. The aims of justice are not always consistent with the aims of reconciliation. Moreover, several features of international criminal trials should give us pause with respect even to how well, in fact, they manage to serve the ends of international justice.     

Should the UK adopt a European system for the registration of trade marks?

An examination of whether the UK Trade Marks Registry shouldno longer undertake searches for relative grounds of refusal.     

Nur Otan,Informal Networks and the Countering of Elite Instability in Kazakhstan: Bringing the ‘Formal’ Back In

As opposed to the current literature which argues that informal politics pervades formal institutions in Kazakhstan and Central Asia more widely, this article argues that Nur Otan, the political party of the President of Kazakhstan, acts as a formal institution to counter the instability generated by informal networks competing for access to political and economic resources. This is achieved by consolidating the political parties associated with these networks into Nur Otan and the synchronisation of the party and the state apparatus. However, the extent to which Nur Otan can provide this stabilising function in the long term is dependent upon regime dynamics.     

C. Reviews and notes: bibliographies and works of reference

FAHARIS AL‐MAKHTUTAT AL‐'ARABIYYA FI AL‐'ALAM. Compiled by KURKIS ‘AWWAD. Kuwait, Ma'had al‐Makhtūtat al‐'Arabiyya, 1984. 2 vols. 445; 448pp.

A SURVEY OF THE SCIENTIFIC MANUSCRIPTS IN THE EGYPTIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY. By DAVID A. KING. (American Research Center in Egypt: Catalogs, 5.) Winona Lake, Eisenbrauns, 1986. xiv, 331pp. (incl. illustrations on pp.221–331). US $54.50 (cloth); US $39.50 (paperback).

AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ISLAMIC SCIENCE. By SEYYED HOSSEIN NASR. Tehran 1975–78, reprinted Lahore, Suhail Academy, 1985. lxiv, 432; xi, 317pp. Pak.Rs. 290 or £10.00.

INDEX OF BAHRAIN MANUSCRIPTS. By ALI ABA HUSSAIN. Translated by B.K. NARAYAN. Bahrain, Historical Documents Centre, 1986. 166pp., plates.

FIHRIS AL‐MAKHTUTUT AL‐'ARABIYYA FI MAKTABAT STRASBURGH AL‐WATANIYYA WA‐L‐JAMI'IYYA. By NAZIH KUSAYBI. (Manshūrat Ma'had al‐Makhtūtat al‐'Arabiyya.) Kuwait, al‐Munazzama al‐'Arabiyya li‐1‐Tarbiya wa‐1‐Thaqafa wa‐l‐'Ulūm, 1985. 204pp. 5 plates.

MAKHTUTAT AL‐SAYYID MUHAMMAD BAQIR AL‐TABATABA'I FI KARBALA’. By SALMAN HADI AL‐TU'MA. Kuwait (publisher as above), 1985. 287pp.

HANDLIST OF ARABIC MANUSCRIPTS (NEW SERIES) IN THE PRINCETON UNIVERSITY LIBRARY. By RUDOLF MACH and ERIC L. ORMSBY. Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1987. xiv, 402pp. £50.30.

CATALOGUE OF ISLAMIC MANUSCRIPTS (IN ARABIC, TURKISH AND PERSIAN) IN THE LIBRARIES OF TURKEY. Edited by EKMELEDD?N ?HSANOGGLU, and prepared by RAMAZAN ?E?EN, CEM??L AKPINAR and CEVAD ?ZG?. Istanbul, Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture, 1984. 524pp. US $10.00.

HANDLIST OF ISLAMIC MANUSCRIPTS ACQUIRED BY THE INDIA OFFICE LIBRARY, 1938–85. Compiled by URSULA SIMS‐WILLIAMS. London, s.n., 1986. 30pp.

TOPKAPI SARAYI MÜZES? OSMANLI ARS?V? KATALOGU. FERMANLAR. I Fasikül No. E. 1–12476. Compiled by Ismail Hakki UZUNCARSILI, ?brahim Kemal BAYBURA and Ülkü ALTINDAG. (Türk Tarih Kurumu VII ser., no. 81.) Ankara, Türk Tarih Kurumu Basimevi, 1985. xii, 105pp. TL. 880.

DER OSMANISCHE STATTHALTER ISKENDER PASCHA (Gest. 1571) UND SEINE STIFTUNGEN IN ÄGYPTEN UND AM BOSPORUS [THE OTTOMAN GOVERNOR ISKENDER PA?A (d. 1571) AND HIS WAQFS IN EGYPT AND ON THE BOSPHORUS]. By GERD WINKELHANE and KLAUS SCHWARZ. (Islamwissenschaftliche Quellen und Texten aus deutschen Bibliotheken [Sources and texts for Islamic studies in German libraries], vol. 1.) Bamberg, Aku‐Verlag, 1985. vi, 361 pp., 7 illustrations.

ISLAMIC STUDIES: LITERATURE ON QURAN IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE: A BIBLIOGRAPHY. By MUHAMMAD ADIL USMANI. Karachi, Islamic Documentation and Information Centre, n.d. [c. 1985]. xii, 95pp.

TEXTUAL SOURCES FOR THE STUDY OF ISLAM. Edited and translated by ANDREW RIPPIN and JAN KNAPPERT. Manchester, Manchester University Press, 1986. xii, 209pp. Map. £25.00 hardback; £6.75 paperback.

IGNÁC GOLDZIHER: HIS LIFE AND SCHOLARSHIP AS REFLECTED IN HIS WORKS AND CORRESPONDENCE. By RÓBERT SIMON. Budapest, Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Leiden, Brill, 1986. 457pp. Plates. HFI. 180.‐

ANALYSE DER GESCHICHTSBÜCHER ZUM THEMA ISLAM. By MONIKA TWORUSCHKA. (Der Islam in den Schulbüchern der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 1.) Braunschweig, Georg‐Eckert‐Institut für internationale Schulbuchforschung, 1986. xxi, 343pp. DM 29.‐

ANALYSE DER EVANGELISCHEN RELIGIONSBÜCHER ZUM THEMA ISLAM. By UDO TWORUSCHKA. (Der Islam in den Schulbüchem der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 2.) Braunschweig, Georg‐Eckert‐Institut für internationale Schulbuchforschung, 1986. xix, 300pp. DM 27.‐

INDEX OF ISLAMIC LITERATURE, 1986. Leicester, Islamic Foundation, 1987. 136pp.

BULLETIN CRITIQUE DES ANNALES ISLAMOLOGIQUES. (Supplément aux Annales Islamologiques, Vol.4.) Cairo, Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale, 1987. 208pp.

A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS ON ISLAM. By MUHAMMAD ADIL USMANI and AKHTAR H. SIDDIQUI. (Islamic Studies no. 4CE.) Karachi, Islamic Documentation and Information Centre, 1985. iv, 126pp.

AL‐ISTISHHADAT AL‐MARJI'IYYA WA‐DAWRUHA FI AL‐BAHTH: DIRASA TATBIQIYYA ‘ALA BUHÜTH AL‐ANZIMA FI MA'HAD AL‐IDARA AL‐'AMMA (1392–1402 A.H.). By NAIM HASAN AL‐SAMADI. Riyadh, Ma'had al‐Idara al‐'Amma, 1406/ 1985–6. 120pp.

A READER'S GUIDE: THE DEVELOPMENT OF BAHA'I LITERATURE IN ENGLISH. By EUNICE BRAUN. Oxford, George Ronald, 1986. 164pp. Frontispiece. £8.95.

THE FIRST ARAB BIBLIOGRAPHY: FIHRIST AL‐'ULUM. By HANS W. WELLISCH. (University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Occasional Papers No.175.) Urbana‐Champaign, University of Illinois, 1986. 42pp. US$ 3.

BIBLIOGRAPHIE DES OUVRAGES ARABES OU RELATIFS AUX ARABES PUBLIÉS DANS L'EUROPE CHRÉTIENNE DE 1810 A 1885. Par VICTOR CHAUVIN. Liège, 1892–1922; reprinted Paris, Institut du Monde Arabe, n.d. [1987?], with preface by Josée Balagna. 12 parts in 4 vols.

ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE ARAB WORLD: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY. By JAMIL E. JREISAT and ZAKI R. GHOSHEH. (Public Affairs and Administration series, 14.) New York, Garland Publishing, 1986. xxx, 259pp. US $49.00.

FIHRIS TA'RIKHI LI‐L‐MU'ALLAFAT AL‐TÜNISIYYA. By JEAN FONTAINE. Tunis, al‐Mu'assasa al‐wataniyya li‐1‐tarjama wa‐1‐tahqiq wa‐1‐dirasat (Bayt al‐hikma), 1986. 290pp. TD 6.500

AL‐BIBLIYÜGHRAFIYA AL‐WATANIYYA AL‐SURIYYA: MULHAQ, 1984. Damascus, Maktabat al‐Asad, 1987. 364pp.

JERUSALEM AND THE HOLY LAND: A PHAIDON CULTURAL GUIDE. Ed. by M. MEHLING. Oxford, Phaidon, 1987. 324pp. 284 colour ills. 9 maps. £9.95.

AJDADUNA FI THARA BAYT AL‐MAQDIS. By KAMIL JAMIL AL‐'ASALI. Amman, Al‐Majma’ al‐Malaki li‐Buhūth al‐Hadara al‐Islamiyya (Royal Academy for Islamic Civilization Research, Al Albait Foundation), 1981. 325pp. 78 illustrations. 12 plans and maps.

AL‐SIHAFA AL‐'ARABIYYA FI FILASTIN, 1876–1948. (THE ARAB PRESS IN PALESTINE.) Compiled by YUSUF Q. KHURI. Beirut & Washington, Institute for Palestine Studies, 1986. 272pp. US $10.00

AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN, 1920–1983. Amman, The Royal Academy for Islamic Civilization Research (Al Albait Foundation). 1984. 211pp.

BOOKS FROM THE ARAB WORLD: A GUIDE TO SELECTION AND ACQUISITION. By KATHERINE VAN DE VATE. (Middle East Libraries Committee Research Guides, 4.) Durham, Middle East Libraries Committee, 1988. iv, 55pp. £5.25.

ADAPTATIONS OF DDC IN THE MIDDLE EAST. By MAHVASH K. MOMENI. (Occasional Papers/University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 170.) Champaign, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign, 1985. 41pp. US $3.00.

ASMA’ AL‐KUTUB. By ‘ABD AL‐LATIF B. MUHAMMAD RIYADIZADA. Edited by Muhammad al‐Tūnji. 2nd edition, Damascus, Dar al‐Fikr, 1983.398pp. US $6.00.

MODERN ARABIC LITERATURE. Compiled and edited by ROGER ALLEN. (A Library of Literary Criticism.) New York, Ungar, 1987. xxxiv, 370pp. US$75.00.

DALIL AL‐I'LAAM WA‐L‐A'LAM FI AL‐'ALAM AL‐'ARABA, 1985–1986. Edited by NAJI NU'MAN (NA'MAN). Jounieh, Dar Nu'man li‐1‐Thaqafa, 1985. 627pp. US $125.00.

?STANBUL KÜTÜPHANELER? ARAP HARFLERI SÜREL? YAYINLAR TOPLU KATALOGU 1828–1928. UNION CATALOGUE OF THE PERIODICALS IN ARABIC SCRIPT IN THE LIBRARIES OF ISTANBUL. Compiled by HASAN DUMAN. (Bibliographical Series, 3.) Istanbul, Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture, 1406/1986. XXXVIII, 602pp. (24pp.‐Arabic). US $25.00

DALIL AL‐ABHATH AL‐TARIKHIYYA FI AL‐MAJALLAT AL‐SURIYYA. Compiled by MUHAMMAD MUTI’ AL‐HAFIZ and GHAZWAT BUDAYR. Damascus, Dar al‐Fikr, 1986. 224pp. 25 Syrian pounds or US $3.00.

AL‐FAHARIS AL‐TAHLILIYYA LI‐L‐TARBIYA AL‐'ARABIYYA AL‐ISLAMIYYA. Amman, Al‐Majma’ al‐Malaki li‐Buhūth al‐Hadara al‐Islamiyya, Mu'assasat Al al‐Bayt (Royal Academy for Islamic Civilization Research, Al Albait Foundation), 1985.2 vols. 228; 357pp.

HERB DRUGS AND HERBALISTS IN TURKEY. By K.H.C. BA?ER, GISHO HONDA and WATARU MIKI. (Studia Culturae Islamicae, 27.) Tokyo, Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, 1986. 300pp., illustrations.

HERB DRUGS AND HERBALISTS IN PAKISTAN. By KHAN USMANGHANI, GISHO HONDA and WATARU MIKI. (Studia Culturae Islamicae, 28.) Tokyo, do., 1986. 285pp., illustrations.

IRAN. Compiled by REZA NAVABPOUR. (World Bibliographical Series, 81.) Oxford, Clio Press, 1988. 310pp. £39.50.

IRAN AND THE WEST: A CRITICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY. By CYRUS GHANI. London, Kegan Paul International, 1987. viii, 967pp. £65.

FIHRIST‐E MAQALAT‐E JANG‐E TAHMILI DAR MATBU'AT‐E IRAN. Compiled by MARKAZ‐E MADARIK‐E FARHANGI‐YE INQILAB‐EISLAMI. Tehran, Wizärat‐e Irshad‐e Islami, 1364 [1986]. 438pp. 500 riyals.

MARCO POLO BIBLIOGRAPHY 1477–1983. MARUKO PORO SHOSHI. Compiled by HIROSHIWATANABE. Tokyo, The Toyo Bunko, 1986. 345pp.

THE HEIR OF PARHAM: ROBERT CURZON, 14th BARON ZOUCHE. By IAN H.C. FRASER. Alburgh, Paradigm Press, 1986. xviii, 230pp. 25 illustrations, map. £19.50.

BALKAN MILITARY HISTORY: A BIBLIOGRAPHY. By JOHN E. JESSUP. New York, Garland, 1986.478pp. US$ 66.00.

MUSLIM ARCHITECTURE OF THE IBERIAN PENINSULA: EASTERN AND WESTERN SOURCES FOR HISPANO‐ISLAMIC BUILDING ARTS. By FRANÇOIS‐AUGUSTE DE MONTÊQUIN. West Cornwall (USA), Locust Hill Press, 1987. 241pp. US$30.00.

ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM, OXFORD: CATALOGUE OF ISLAMIC SEALS AND TALISMANS. By LUDVIK KALUS. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1986. 120pp. 12 pages of illustrations. £40.00.

ARMENIAN RUGS FROM THE GREGORIAN COLLECTION: A CATALOGUE OF THE EXHIBITION ... 1986, MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA. By ARTHUR T. GREGORIAN and JOYCE GREGORIAN HAMPSHIRE. Newton (USA), the authors, 1986. 81pp. 46 ills., map.

500 ÉV OSZMÁN‐TÖRÖK SZONYEGMUVÉSZETE. FIVE HUNDRED YEARS IN THE ART OF OTTOMAN‐TURKISH CARPETMAKING. By FERENC BATÁRI. Budapest, Museum of Applied Art, 1986. [47]pp. 84 illustrations.

RÉGI KELETI SZONYEGEK BUDAPESTI MAGÁNGYUJTEMÉNYEKBOL. ANCIENT ORIENTAL RUGS FROM PRIVATE COLLECTIONS IN BUDAPEST. By FERENC BATÁRI. Budapest, Budapest Gallery and Museum of Applied Art, 1986. [31]pp. 46 illustrations. Ft. 50.‐

THE MEED MIDDLE EAST FINANCIAL DIRECTORY 1987. London, Middle East Economic Digest, 1987. 348pp. £60.00.

ARABIAN INSURANCE GUIDE, 1987. Compiled by PAUL LANG, JOANNE GIBBONS and ELIZABETH HUTCHINS. (Fourth Edition) Wellingborough, Beacon Publications, 1987. 198pp.

MIDDLE EAST ORGANIZATIONS IN WASHINGTON, DC: OCTOBER 1986. Compiled by THE MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE. Washington, Middle East Institute, 1986. [vi], 82pp. US$ 6.00.

ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF THE THIRD WORLD. By GEORGE THOMAS KURIAN. New York & Oxford, Facts on File, 1987. 3 vols. 2342pp. Maps. £95.00.

AL‐MISBAH: STUDENTS’ DICTIONARY, ENGLISH‐ENGLISH‐ARABIC. Compiled by NAYEF KHARMA and ANTHONY EYRE. Beirut, Libraire du Liban & Harlow, Longman, 1986. XII, 442pp. £9.00.

HARRAP'S ENGLISH‐ARABIC BASIC LEARNER'S DICTIONARY. Edited by NAGI ABBOUD. London, Harrap, 1986. 369pp. £4.50.

AL‐MUGHNI AL‐AKBAR, A DICTIONARY OF CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH (ENGLISH‐ARABIC). By HASAN S. KARMI. Beirut, Librairie du Liban, 1987. 1710pp. Coloured and monochrome plates. £49.50

A DICTIONARY OF EGYPTIAN ARABIC: ARABIC‐ENGLISH. Compiled by MARTIN HINDS and EL‐SAID BADAWI. Beirut, Librairie du Liban, 1986. 981pp. 10 plates. £45.00.

THE ENGLISH‐ARABIC DICTIONARY OF PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS TERMS. Compiled by SABA & CO. London, Middle East Economic Digest, 1987. 210pp. £30.

COMPARATIVE BASIC VOCABULARY OF KHONJI AND LARI. By KOJI KAMIOKA, ATAOLLAH RAHBAR and ALI AKBAR. (Larestani Studies 2; Studia Culturae Islamicae 30.) Tokyo, Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, 1986. 125pp.

PHILOLOGIA ARABICA: ARABISCHE STUDIEN EN DRUKKEN IN DE NEDER‐LANDEN IN DE 16de EN 17de EEUW. Edited by FRANCINE DE NAVE. (Publikaties van het Museum Plantin‐Moretus en het Stedeiijk Prentenkabinet, 3.) Antwerp, Museum Plantin‐Moretus, 1986. cxlix, 236pp. Plates.

GESCHICHTE UND FUNKTION EINIGER POLIT1SCHER TERMINI IM ARABISCHEN DES 19. JAHRHUNDERTS (1798–1882). By HELGA REBHAN. Wiesbaden, Harrassowitz, 1986. 205pp. DM 68.‐

COMPARATIVE VOCABULARY OF SOUTHERN ARABIC: MAHRI, GIBBALI AND SOQOTRI. By AKI'O NAKANO. (Studia Culturae Islamicae, 29.) Tokyo, Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, 1986. 182pp.

STRUKTURELLE GRAMMATIK DES NEUPERSISCHEN (FARSI). Bd. I. PHONOLOGIE. EINE PARADIGMATISCH‐SYNTAGMATISCHE DARSTELLUNG. By MOHAMMAD‐REZA MAJIDI. (Forum Phoneticum, Bd. 34, 1.) Hamburg, Helmut Buske Verlag, 1986. 355pp. DM64.‐

THE WEST BANK HANDBOOK: A POLITICAL LEXICON. By MERON BENVENISTI, with ZIAD ABU‐ZAYED and DANNY RUBINSTEIN. Jerusalem, Jerusalem Post, 1986. 228pp. Maps.

KUTADGU B?L?G GRAMER?: F??L. By AHMET B. ERC?LASUN. (Gazi Üniversitesi Yayin 33.) Ankara, Gazi Üniversitesi Basin‐Yayin Yüksekokulu Basimevi, 1984. 196pp.     

Neopatrimonialism and beyond: reassessing the formal and informal in the study of Central Asian politics

Neopatrimonialism has emerged as the central conceptual label applied by scholars to understand the politics of the Central Asian republics. Like the use of neopatrimonialism in other regional settings, this article argues that the concept has become susceptible to concept misinformation and stretching. Adopting a critical perspective, this article highlights three significant problems with the application of neopatrimonialism in the study of Central Asian politics: its appropriateness and operationalisation; the difficulty in ontologically and empirically untangling the formal and informal; and an inherent normativty in its application. While not advocating an abandonment of the concept, the article considers instead how it can be used better in conjunction with additional analytical approaches and/or concepts. The article proffers that a focus on either formal-institutional structures; discourses of power; and the concept of ‘multiple modernities’ would aid comprehension of the region and resolve the three issues highlighted in this work.