· CPME 4th edition has a new chapter dedicated to the Arab Spring and its aftermath in an era of uncertainty, including case studies on: Libya, Yemen and Egypt
· CPME 4th edition offers three cases studies in every chapter, including new case studies on: ISIS, the Yazidi minority, Tunisia and democracy, Russia and its role in the Syrian conflict, Saudi Arabia and the 2030 economic reform process, and the Kurdish nationalist movement.
· Updated and new Recommended Reading Sections

Chapter on the US and the rest has a new section on Russia and the Middle East as well as a new case study on Russia and the Middle East.
There is a third case study in the chapter on nationalism. Additionally some new cases studies have been introduced in other chapters to replace outdated material. For example, in the chapter on Political Economy the case study on Kuwait has been replaced with one on Saudi Arabia economic reform for 2030 Plan. Furthermore the case study on Globalization re-focuses on labour mobility in the MENA region.
Every table and infographic has been updated where possible.