Christians in the Arab East, in its second edition, is a comprehensive study of the varying roles which Arabic speaking Christians have played in Islamic society since the Muslim conquests, and in the states of the Arab East since independence. Except for Lebanon where they are an official majority and where they continue to dominate many areas of society and government, these Christian communities are a minority conspicuous for their affluence, education, and Western orientation, whose influence in the contemporary Middle East greatly exceeds their numerical strength. Detailed demographic statistics, many made available here for the first time in English, the power structure and political involvement of the various churches, Christian participation in the Palestinian nationalist movement and Lebanon in the immediate aftermath of the 1975-76 civil disturbances - all are examined in the light of the growing importance of the Middle East in world affairs.