"Laurence Louer is among the foremost authorities on contemporary Shiite Islamic politics in the Middle East. Her intrepid field work and mastery of difficult Arabic texts give her hands-on knowledge, and she is a keen reader of political developments. An indispensable contribution."--Juan Cole, Professor of History and Director, Center for Middle East and North African Studies, University of Michigan "This short and elegantly written book manages the extraordinarily difficult feat of presenting the reader with a lucid introduction to Shiism in the Middle East that is at the same time full of penetrating insights. Dealing with Shiism in the Middle East as a whole, Louer's book looks at the sect's political transformation after the Islamic Revolution and the fall of Baathist Iraq, paying particular attention to the changing role of the clergy, the rise of lay authorities, and transnational patterns of religious thought and practice that cannot be divided by neatly marked national categories."--Faisal Devji, author of The Terrorist in Search of Humanity "An impressive historical sociological overview, Shiism and Politics in the Middle East is a welcome addition to academic research on Shia movements beyond Iran that offers valuable insight and incredible detail, accessible to scholars, policymakers, and general audiences interested in the topic. [The book] provides a strong springboard and opening new avenues for future research into a timely and important issue." -- Ioana Emy Matesan, Syracuse University, H-Net Reviews in the Humanities & Social Sciences.