The Middle East And The United States: A Historical And Political Reassessment, Second Edition [Paperback]

David W. Lesch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 18, 1999

The important position of the United States in the Middle East has traditionally been examined from a one-dimensional perspective. The second edition of this acclaimed book brings together noted scholars and diplomats from the Middle East, North America, and Europe to provide a multidimensional and cross-cultural historical reassessment of American policy toward the region. The book has been completely revised and updated, examining such encounters as the King-Crane Commission following World War I to the current Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and security questions in the Gulf. Two all-new chapters have been added to enhance its comprehensiveness.The Middle East and the United States: A Historical and Political Reassessment, Second Edition begins by examining the evolution of the U.S. role in the Middle East, from untested international actor to cold war participant in the 1950s. The discussions explore how the perceived idealism of the Wilsonian approach gave way to the economic diplomacy following World War II, which in turn was replaced by a more goal-oriented foreign policy commensurate with the onset of the Cold War. It then analyzes the varied roles of the United States in the ”peace process” in the aftermath of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and discusses each role in relation to specific events and relationships that characterized the process.Contributors then turn to the 1990-1991 Gulf war and its aftermath, which helped bring about a new regional configuration and created an enhanced role for the United States, one, however, that has come under increasing scrutiny of late. The final section offers a retrospective look at the Cold War era in the Middle East and at the new challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for American foreign policy with respect to the peace process, Islamist movements, security in the Gulf, and regional economic issues. The volume closes with a post-script on the development of the U.S. perception of the Islamic world during the Triplolitan era in the early years of the republic, showing that the negative image of the region generally held by Americans is anything but a recent phenomenon.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A solid contribution to understanding the successes and mistakes [of the United States] in this critical region. Invaluable." -- Choice

"A welcome collection." -- Foreign Affairs

"An excellent survey of the region and a welcomed addition." -- Journal of Third World Studies

"An important contribution to the literature on United States foreign policy in the Middle East." -- Digest of Middle East Studies

"Authoritative and invaluable for courses on modern Middle East history and Middle East international relations. " -- Louis Cantori University of Maryland, Baltimore County

"Richly rewarding and insightful....A book that is truly worth owning." -- Augustus Richard Norton, Boston University --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

David W. Lesch is professor of history at Trinity University, San Antonio. His publications include Syria and the United States: Eisenhower’s Cold War in the Middle East (Westview, 1992), 1979: The Year That Shaped the Modern Middle East (Westview, 2001), and The Lion of Damascus : Bashar al-Asad and Modern Syria (Yale, 2005).

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Westview Press; 2 Sub edition (February 18, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813335590
• ISBN-13: 978-0813335599
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,185,664 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Much Needed Look at US Middle East Policy and Consequences, September 29, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Middle East And The United States: A Historical And Political Reassessment, Second Edition (Paperback)

Lesch shows no special biases toward the US or its allies in the Middle East. Instead, he presents a compendium of official documents and interview material which places certain key Middle East situations in perspective. The book certainly gave me a clearer insight into why the US is both liked and disliked by nearly all countries and, while gaining a better understanding of other nation's positions, also showed that there is no clear and easy solution to the problems there. In particular, we are given insights that the animosities held toward the US are actually animosities held against the West, in general. Further, these grievances are indeed valid and date back, not to the 1948 beginning of the Israeli state, but back to the post-WW1 settlements and further. In the light of recent events, strongly recommended reading for all Americans.

1 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Book Not Shipped, February 28, 2006

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Steven Novick "smnovick" (Oak Hill, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Middle East and the United States: A Historical and Political Reassessment (Paperback)

DO NOT ORDER THIS BOOK FROM AMAZON.COM. I ordered it 6 weeks ago from them, and it has yet to ship. Even though it still says IN STOCK and SHIPS WITHIN 24 HOURS, this book has not been shipped to me yet. I recommend looking at www.bn.com, where they ship very quickly.