US Foreign Policy in the Middle East

by Kylie Baxter, Shahram Akbarzadeh

Over the last sixty years, Washington has been a major player in the politics of the Middle East. From Iran in the 1950s, to the Gulf War of 1991, to the devastation of contemporary Iraq, US policy has had a profound impact on the domestic affairs of the region. Anti-Americanism is a pervasive feature of modern Middle East public opinion. But far from being intrinsic to ‘Muslim political culture’, scepticism of the US agenda is directly linked to the regional policies pursued by Washington. By exploring critical points of regional crisis, Kylie Baxter and Shahram Akbarzadeh elaborate on the links between US policy and popular distrust of the United States. The book also examines the interconnected nature of events in this geo-strategically vital region. Accessible and easy to follow, it is designed to provide a clear and concise overview of complex historical and political material. Key features

208 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2008

Reviews

[Michelle Bourke · Rating 4 out of 5]

My friend gave this to me to have a read. I thought it was a fantastic overview of all of the interwoven elements of Anti-American sentiment which was never a forgone conclusion in the Middle East, but a product of a series of changes in American Policy toward the Middle East and subsequent support for the state of Israel which has continued to make relations between the various ME countries a difficult balancing act for the US administration.

Interestingly in a more recent book I read by Paul Eckman (expert on human emotion) on Emotional Awareness, Eckman refers to his watching of Osama Bin Laden's facial expressions which in the beginning showed rage and in the later years showed disgust - give me a sense of the emotional journey that those in the Middle East have slowly been taken on by their leaders and by the actions and reactions of the US over time.

Definitely worth a read as part of a broad overview of this important psychological aspect of the Middle East and its origins in recent history.

[C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfectly adequate textbook.