Monsoon Revolution: Republicans, Sultans, and Empires in Oman, 1965-1976 (Oxford Historical Monographs) Reprint Edition

Takriti’s first monograph is an essential reading for all those interested in learning about the rich revolutionary traditions in the Middle East. “Monsoon Revolution,” which has become the authoritative text on contemporary Dhufari history, is the first serious study on Dhufar to be published in English since Fred Halliday’s “Arabia Without Sultans,” in the 1970s. What distinguishes “Monsoon Revolution” from the preexisting literature on Dhufar is that Takriti presents the revolution on its own terms, providing both localized and globalized histories of the longest armed struggle in the Arabian Gulf and Peninsula. For readers less interested in revolutionary history, Takriti dedicates an entire chapter to exposing how Britain orchestrated a coup to replace the anti-modernizing Said bin Taimur with his pro-modernizing son Qaboos—utilizing hitherto uncovered British documents to carefully detail this colonial coup. I was particularly fascinated in the crucial roles women played in the revolution, as well as how the Dhufari revolution shaped the formation of the modern Omani state. I cannot stress how much I enjoyed reading this monograph. I cannot wait to read the Arabic version of “Monsoon Revolution,” which is still fresh off the press!