Small Islands, Big Politics:
The Tonbs and Abus Musa in the Persian Gulf

1996 Small Islands, Big Politics: The Tombs and Abu Musa in the Persian Gulf, editor and contributor. New York: St. Martin’s Press. 200 pages. Tranlated into Persian. ISBN:0-312-15910-2

Table of Contents

Notes on Contributors
Preface
The Colonial-Political Dimension of the Iran-UAE Dispute
-Hooshang Amirahmadi
Perspectives on the Territorial History of the Tonb and Abu Musa islands
-Pirouz Mojtahed-Zadeh
The Legal Basis of Iran's Sovereignty over Abu Musa Island
-Davoud H. Bavand
The Ownership of the Tonb Islands: A Legal Analysis
-Guive Mirfendereski

Appendices
Bibliography
Index

About This Book
Small Islands, Big Politics examines a territorial dispute between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the ownership and control of the Tonbs, three small islands in the Persian Gulf overlooking the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Since 1971, the year British colonialism withdrew from the region, Iran has regained full sovereignty over the Tonbs and has accomodated the UAE in administration of Abu Musa. Small Islands, Big Politics provides a close reading of the legal and relevant territorial-historical dimensions of the dispute and dissects the intricacies of international law and its application to other territorial disputes in the region. Small Islands, Big Politics is the first book-length analysis of the issue in the English language and will be indispensable reading for anyone interested in Middle East/Persian Gulf politics, history, and international studies. The book also includes a comprehensive bibliography and key documents relating to the issues.

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