Subject - The Middle East (5)

I believe the answer is:

theme

'subject' is the definition.
(theme can mean a topic or subject)

'the middle east' is the wordplay.
'middle east' becomes 'me' (abbreviation for Middle East).
'the'+'me'='THEME'

(Other definitions for theme that I've seen before include "Topic, leitmotif" , "Recurring melody" , "Motif or melody" , "Topical item" , "Subject (on which person writes, speaks)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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