Banking on the State: The Financial Foundations of Lebanon (Stanford Studies in Middle Eastern and Islamic Societies and Cultures)

This is a well-written book offering valuable insights into the history of the banking system in Lebanon. For any avid reader in Middle East politics, economics or finance, this book shows how Lebanon's current economic system emerged from the convergence of economic and political elites, was deeply rooted in trade (specifically silk trade in the ottoman-territory of Mount Lebanon and Beirut), and covers the historic debates between various sets of economists in Lebanon. It highlights the intersection between local political-economic ideas and global trends. I highly recommend this book.