Bridging the Unbridgeable in the History of the Middle East: The Arab and the Raj; Paul Rich

Rosemarie Said Zahlan , The Making of the Modern Gulf States: Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Efraim Karsh and Inari Karsh , Empires of the Sand: The Struggle for Mastery in the Middle East, 1789–1923.     

The symbolism of the Arab flag in modern Arab states: between commonality and uniqueness*

ABSTRACT. The national flag, anthem and emblem are the three symbols through which an independent country proclaims its identity and sovereignty. Although each state has its distinctive flag, there are similarities in the flags of certain countries, such as in Scandinavia (the cross) and Africa (colours). These symbolise certain propinquity in terms of ideology, culture and history. Similarity is also to be found in the flags of the Arab countries: out of the twenty‐two current members of the Arab League, ten share the same colours on their flags (green, white, black and red), while a certain Islamic symbol (eagle, star) in some flags represents the uniqueness of that country. Of the other twelve countries, most rely on one colour of the four (usually red or green) while nine use Islamic symbols (stars, crescent and sword) on their flags. In spite of the importance of this national symbol, the study of the modern Arab flag is almost non‐existent. This article explores the modern evolution of the Arab flag and the reasons for the similarities in many Arab flags. In particular, it will deal with the pan‐Arab flags of the Hashemites Kingdom of the Hijaz (1916–26), Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Syria and Egypt.     

Murder by Index Card: William Colby and the American Tradition of Atrocity Denial

John Prados . Lost Crusader: The Secret Wars of CIA Director William Colby . New York : Oxford University Press , 2003 . Pp. xvii, 380 . Illustrations, notes, index. $ (cloth).     

从知识、技术到智识传统:“非遗”主题展览的话语分析

非物质文化遗产(非遗)作为博物馆展览的主题已成为常态。经过多年的发展,"非遗"主题展览已经形成了相对模式化的叙事类型和同质化的发展特征。这一现状反映了多重话语博弈下的行业惯习,同时也体现了非遗作为一种文化遗产行政话语所应有的限度。"非遗"主题展览应与强调多元、互动与阐释性的新博物馆学发展趋势相呼应,关注非遗变化与改造的实践性,摆脱"非遗"话语与行业惯习接驳的逻辑自洽,反思性的回归博物馆多线和声的智识传统,从而使非遗与展览的关联拥有更多的可能性。     

论新农村文化建设中的现代与传统

农村文化是指与农村区域的生产方式和生活方式相联系、适应当地群众需要的思想观念、道德伦理、法律意识、科学文化、知识教育、文娱活动的统称,是农村经济、政治、社会生活发展变化的反映。农村文化的发展反映着农村社会文明程度的提高,农村文化的发展推动着新时代农民的全面发展。发展繁荣农村文化,既是农村经济社会发展的内在动力,更是满足广大农民群众精神文化需求的有效途径,