Middle East and North African states and societies in their ongoing interaction, as states shape societies, while societal actors influence states.

Some analysts emphasize the state and state formation as essential to understanding Middle East and North Africa politics. Others highlight the role of societal variables like ethnicity, nationalism, sectarian identity, or class. Still others look at Middle East and North African states and societies in their ongoing interaction, as states shape societies, while societal actors influence states. Which of these frameworks is most productive and helpful to understanding politics in the Middle East and North Africa, and why? That is, defend a claim for the analytical centrality of the state, society, or state-society relations in the study of Middle East and North Africa politics. Be sure to provide examples.