The year that shaped the modern middle east and the new lion of damascus mark l. Yergins conversational style is a good fit whether hes explaining opecs imperium on western economies or the first hints of peak oil theory. Andrew bacevich americas war for the greater middle east. The five parts cover the watershed moments and major challenges the united states faces in the middle east, from the cold war proxy wars and the arabisraeli conflict, to the gulf wars and the upheaval in the region postarab uprisings. The early american presence in the region was mainly in north africa, where trading ships sailed to export american goods and to import carpets, nuts, and figs. Built around a framework of political history, while also carefully integrating social. The essay provides an excellent introductory survey, beginning with the recognition of the young american republic by morocco in the 19th century through recent events. Its a history of oil on all continents, not just the middle east. The year that shaped the modern middle east westview, 2001, and the lion of damascus. The middle east and the united states brings together scholars and policy experts to provide an empirical and balanced assessment of us policy in the middle east primarily from the end of world war i to the present. Furthermore, while the book s subtitle is america in the middle east from 1776 to the present, oren only spends the last 20% of the book discussing the last 70 years of history the period in which i was most interested, stating outright that he did so because there are many.
This acclaimed book brings together scholars and diplomats from the middle east, europe, and north america to provide an objective, crosscultural assessment of u. It is intended to serve the needs of teachers and students in college survey courses in modern european history and american history, as well as in modern western civilization and world cultures. Lesch is the author of several articles and books on the middle east and the united states, including 1979. New edition now available, which goes deeper into modern u. It provides an objective, crosscultural assessment of u. From the end of world war ii until 1980, virtually no american soldiers were killed in. The united states creeping involvement in the middle east began later, during the truman administration, and continued through the 21st century. For more than 30 years, the american educational trust aet has been promoting u. Oren has written books, articles, and essays on middle eastern history, and is the oren has written books, articles, and essays on middle eastern history, and is the author of the new york times bestselling power, faith and fantasy and six days of war. Implications for the united states key findings the drivers of conflict between the sunnis and shia are mostly political in nature, and political and social contexts inform the primacy of sectarian identity and the prevalence of sectarianism. The middle east remains today a troublesome area for the united states. A turning point in the history of the middle east came when oil was discovered, first in persia in 1908 and later in saudi arabia in 1938 and the other persian gulf states, and also in libya and algeria. Book description the middle east and the united states brings together scholars and policy experts to provide an empirical and balanced assessment of us policy in the middle east primarily from the end of world war i to the present. For middle easterners like the guys in the pizza place, the united states is no longer a shining city on a hill.
The united states, which had been increasing its presence in the middle east since the end of world war ii, was determined to fill the void. The publisher may believe that that will make the book more attractive to the general reader, for whom a list of so many books might be intimidating. A history of the modern middle east 6th edition william l. This is postwar europe, asia, and the middle east, section 9. In a sixpart series, the middle east and the west, a troubled history, nprs mike shuster examines the nearly 1,000year history of western involvement in the middle east. American interests in the region are threatened by a host of adversaries from a resurgent russia, a hegemonic iranian desire and campaign of subversion, and jihadi threat that has morphed from al qaeda to the islamic state. World war ii was the most expensive war in history. Middle east books and more is a project of the american educational trust, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization incorporated in 1982 in washington, dc by retired u. Unlike many journalists and historians who see the wars in the middle east as a series of isolated conflicts that happen to have taken place in a single region over several decades, andrew bacevich, a career army officer turned military historian and foreign policy critic, sees a sustained military campaign that began with jimmy carter and continues today. List of books and articles about middle east history. Lesch is professor of middle east history in the department of history at trinity university.
United states foreign policy in the middle east wikipedia. More than ever, the middle east and the united states provides compellingly comprehensive and authoritative coverage of us foreign policy and middle east political history from world war i through the cold war and gulf war to the present. Oren authored the recent bestseller power, faith, and fantasy. The middle east is traditionally defined as the fertile crescent mesopotamia, levant, and egypt and neighboring areas of arabia, anatolia and iran. In this article the influential moroccan historian provides a history of the role of the united states in the middle east and north africa. A western dependence on middle eastern oil and the decline of british influence led to a growing american interest in the region. The fourth edition of the acclaimed the middle east and the united states brings together scholars and diplomats from the middle east, europe, and north america to provide an objective, crosscultural assessment of us policy toward the middle east. Prior to that, three indirect occurrences may be cited in this regard. Jun 06, 20 over the centuries the middle east has confounded the dreams of conquerors and peacemakers alike. President richard nixon, facing growing opposition to the vietnam war, knew that sending u. As the united states finds itself in the aftermath of another crisis in the middle east, it is worth the risk of opprobrium to ask why there should be hostility toward america in that region.
Eisenhowers cold war in the middle east westview, 1992, 1979. Postwar europe, asia, and the middle east 2012 book archive. A history of western disorder in arab lands by jeremy salt this is a little more in depth, and offers insights as to why the middle east. The butterfield stage line ran from 1857 to 1861, but the road was used by settlers, cattle drives and trade caravans long after. Haas, this text provides a broad and authoritative understanding of the united states involvement in the middle east. The middle east and the united states brings together scholars and policy experts to provide an empirical and balanced assessment of us policy in the middle east.
A history of the modern middle east examines the profound and often dramatic transformations of the region in the past two centuries, from the ottoman and egyptian reforms, through the challenge of western imperialism, to the impact of us foreign policies. Andrew bacevich americas war for the greater middle. The united states was born as a naval trading nation, and, two centuries before the oil boom, 20 percent of this trade was with the middle east. Aboard this vessel a bargain was struck that saudi arabia would provide cheap oil for america in exchange for protection. Years later, american publishers began to recognize the market for quality, objective books about the middle east, and began printing thousands of titles in the united states. The israelis can claim or wish to, at least that lord balfours declaration of 1917 promised britain support for a jewish homeland in palestine, which didnt just mean the lefthand bit that became israel. Haas is associate professor in the political science department and the graduate center for social. The united states through modern times captures the story of the united states from the precolonial era to the 21st century. Four times a year, shipments crossed the atlantic in sea containers to be sold by the newlyformed aet book club. This list is intended as a timeline of the history of the middle east. The middle east with its particular characteristics was not to emerge until the late second millennium ad. Home to the cradle of civilization, the middle east interchangeable with the near east has seen many of the worlds oldest cultures and civilizations.
The sixth edition is significantly revised throughout, including a new part structure and part introductions that provide students with greater context for understanding the history of the united states and the middle east. Why america cant quit the middle east hoover institution. Regardless, the omission is unfortunate for readers specialising in united states foreign policy and the middle east. The 20 updated fifth edition of the acclaimed the middle east and the united states brings together scholars and diplomats from the middle east, europe, and north america to provide an objective. The 911 attacks offered evidence that the middle east s problems could reach out and touch the united states in disastrous ways. The middle east doesnt admire america anymore foreign. History, politics, and ideologies, updated 20 edition. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. What disappointed you about the united states and the middle east. The five parts cover the watershed moments and major challenges the united states faces in the. The book middle east and the united states history, politics, and ideologies by david w. The butterfield stage line ran from 1857 to 1861, but the road was used by settlers, cattle drives and trade caravans long.
Bacevich discusses his new book, americas war for the greater middle east. Britain, the united states and postwar decolonization, 19451973 by simon c. The year that shaped the modern middle east and the new lion of damascus. West texas before and after the civil war saw an explosion of immigrants making their way through the area on their way west. The new edition has been thoroughly and thoughtfully reorganized, revised, and updated to include five new chapters on topics such as the 2003 war. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Bush administration responded with the massive projection of american power into the region, focused on defeating alqaeda, toppling hostile governments in afghanistan and iraq, birthing stable. The internet modern history sourcebook is one of series of history primary sourcebooks. This history started from the earliest human settlements, continuing through several major pre and postislamic empires. During the cold war, britain and the united states tried not to draw attention to their differences, and to this day the british government retains over a 100.
On january 2, 2020, the united states killed the iranian general qassem soleimani, who, as leader of irans quds force, was the coordinator of the attacks on the united states and her allies. United stateshistorystudy and teaching elementary and. A concise history of the middle east arthur goldschmidt jr. During the cold war, the middle easts energy supplies and several communist leaning regimes rendered it part of the ussoviet chessboard. List of modern conflicts in the middle east wikipedia. Foreign policy in the middle east podcast on march 9, 2007, michael oren addressed the washington institutes special policy forum.
Modernday syria, a country located in the middle east on the shore of the mediterranean sea, is one of the most ancient inhabited regions on earth. The united states spent about 10 times as much as it had spent in all its previous wars put together. Britain and the middle east from 1914 to the present. A history of the middle east by peter mansfield this book offers a good overview by a very well respected historian. This volume addresses the changes in the middle eastand in the united states as wellthat has significantly affected the usmiddle eastern dynamic. How the millennial generation is changing the middle east. They recognize that the promise of america does not conform to reality and the gap.
This nowclassic book, fully updated to 2009, follows the historic struggles of the region over the last two hundred years, from napoleons assault on egypt, through the slow decline and fall of the ottoman empire, to the painful emergence of modern nations, the palestinian question and islamic. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the middle east and the united states. This acclaimed book brings together scholars and dip. United states foreign policy in the middle east has its roots as early as the barbary wars in the first years of the u. This book is licensed under a creative commons byncsa 3. American policy during the cold war tried to prevent soviet union influence by supporting anticommunist regimes and backing israel against sovietsponsored arab countries. To refer to a concept similar to that of todays middle east but earlier in time, the term ancient near east is used. Sep 03, 2018 this volume addresses the changes in the middle eastand in the united states as wellthat has significantly affected the usmiddle eastern dynamic. Field notes reconstructs the origins and trajectory of area studies in the united states, focusing on middle east studies from the 1920s to the 1980s. This is a list of modern conflicts in the middle east ensuing in the geographic and political region known as the middle east. The middle east and the united states history, politics.
His publications include syria and the united states. Generally i enjoy the great courses but in this case, whilst there was a good coverage of the facts of the history, there was little or no insight or opinion offered. The making of middle east studies in the united states. Here was the start of americas involvement in the middle east. A historian and senior fellow at the shalem center in jerusalem, dr. Drawing on extensive archival research, zachary lockman shows how the carnegie, rockefeller, and ford foundations played key roles in conceiving, funding, and launching postwar area studies, expecting them to yield a new kind of. The united states foreign policy toward the middle east after world war ii the united states political presence in the middle east did not intensify until the end of world war ii. Apr 08, 2016 the central argument of the book is that the u. This agreement marked the beginning for every thing america would do in the middle east to protect the oil there. This volume addresses the changes in the middle east and in the united states as wellthat has significantly affected the us middle eastern dynamic.
1173 1392 1303 1278 621 1013 1025 309 1135 567 733 958 431 1120 776 1269 312 797 157 389 537 1432 1268 178 1230 730 11 126 1329 849 90 1479 655 1227 50 715 1318 798 171 1304 1037 421 943 226 758 1421