Challenges for America in the Middle East

Richard W. Mansbach (BA Swarthmore College, DPhil Oxford University) is a former Marshall Scholar and three-time Fulbright Scholar. He has authored, co-authored, or edited seventeen books and numerous articles and book chapters largely concerning theory in global politics and foreign policy. His scholarship has extended our understanding of global politics beyond the traditional notion of territorial states interacting in an anarchic system to encompass a wide variety of actors complexly related across a variety of issues. Increasingly, his work has moved from the dominant role of "states" in international relations theory to encompass a changing cast of actors in a globalizing world and toward the concept of "identity" and the role of psychological, as opposed to geographic, distance in determining loyalties and behavior. His scholarship focuses on the critical role of history and norms in understanding change and continuity in global politics and in the movement from pre-international to international and, ultimately, post-international politics in a globalizing world. Among his books several are routinely used in major graduate programs, notably, The Web of World Politics, In Search of Theory: Toward a New Paradigm for Global Politics, The Elusive Quest: Theory and International Politics, Polities: Authority, Identities, and Change, The Elusive Quest Continues: Theory and Global Politics, Remapping Global Politics, Globalization: The return of borders to a borderless world?. In addition, Professor Mansbach was the co-editor of the field's flagship journal International Studies. He has also served as department chair at Rutgers University (New Brunswick) and at Iowa State University. Kirsten Taylor (BA University of Pittsburgh, PhD McGill University) is Associate Professor and Department Chair of Government and International Studies at Berry College, a private liberal arts college in Northwest Georgia. Her scholarship focuses on the development and transformation of international institutions and norms, with particular emphases on security and environmental institutions, teaching with simulations. Her articles have appeared in International Studies Perspectives, Canadian Journal of Political Science and Comparative Strategy. Dr. Taylor also is co-author of a textbook, Introduction to Global Politics, with Richard Mansbach.

Chapter 1: Sources of American Foreign Policy The Linkage of Domestic and Foreign Policies Sources of U.S. Foreign Policy Conclusion Chapter 2: Competing Currents in U.S. Foreign Policy Competing Currents The Past: Competing Currents in Historical Perspective The Present: The Impact of 9/11 Conclusion: Engagement or Disengagement? Part I: Arab Spring or Arab Winter? Chapter 3: America and the Arab Middle East before the Arab Spring Sources of American Policy toward the Arab Middle East The Arabs: World War One and After The Middle East and Oil The Cold War and the Arab World Political Islam Conclusion: Political Islam and Democracy Chapter 4: America and the Evolution of the Arab Spring The Arrival of Spring Conclusion: The Middle East in an Era of Declining American Power Chapter 5: American Options in a Changing Arab World Egypt Syria Conclusion: Spring or Winter? Part II: Radical Islam Chapter 6: Radical Islam: Origins and Evolution Sources of American Policy toward Radical Islam Early Islam Sources and Meaning of Radical Islam The Origins and Early Evolution of al-Qaeda ("the Base") Conclusion: American Foreign Policy and the "Green Menace" Chapter 7: America and the War on Terror The War on Terror Begins Al-Qaeda and Islamic Extremism after 9/11 Regional Terrorist Groups Iraq and Syria The "War on Terror" Human Rights and the War on Terror Conclusion Chapter 8: An End to the War on Terror? Al-Qaeda and Its Regional Affiliates Islamic State of Iraq and Syria "Lone Wolves" Surveillance Human Rights: Drone Strikes The War on Terror Conclusion: Terrorism Persists Part III: Israel and Palestine Chapter 9: America and the Evolution of the Israeli-Palestinian Conundrum, 1948-1967 The Birth of Israel Sources of U.S. Policy toward Israel and the Palestinians The Yom Kippur or October War The Six-Day War and Its Consequences Conclusion: Consequences of the Six-Day War Chapter 10: America, Israel and Palestine: The Elusive Road to Peace American Policy and the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process Conclusion: What Next? Chapter 11: Is Israel-Palestinian Peace Possible? Two States or One? Israeli Settlements Refugees Hamas and Gaza Economic and Resource Issues Conclusion: Will It Ever End? Part IV: The Shia Crescent Chapter 12: Early American Relations with Iran and Iraq Sources of American Policy toward Iran and Iraq Iran, America, and Britain until the Iranian Revolution The Birth and Evolution of Iraq Conclusion Chapter 13: America and the Shia Crescent: Iraq and Iran Iraq Iran Conclusion Chapter 14: American Options in Iran and Iraq Combatting Insurgency in Iraq Growing Iranian influence in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East America and Its Sunni Friends Oil Interests Iran's Nuclear Ambitions Israel and Iran's "Existential Threat" Conclusion Chapter 15: Conclusion: America and the Complex Middle East The Evolution of American Foreign Policy before the Cold War After the Cold War Contemporary Middle East Challenges What Next?

"Challenges for America in the Middle East helps students understand the environmental factors of Middle Eastern politics as they relate to the principles and ideas of American foreign policy. The authors present compelling arguments concerning the political reasoning behind American policy actions, as well as policy prescriptions that might be discussed or considered by key U.S. policy actors." -- Mark A. Cichock "Mansbach and Taylor's book examining the American role in and perspectives on recent developments in the Middle East is needed and timely. The strengths of Challenges for America in the Middle East are its accuracy, balance, clarity, and inclusion of well-considered policy options, which will stimulate and engage students in debates about the alternatives for American foreign policy. The authors have done a very impressive job." -- Sanford Lakoff "There has long been a need for a book like Challenges for America in the Middle East. The book has the distinction of presenting students with clear policy options, inviting them to debate and reason policy alternatives. Mansbach and Taylor are very knowledgeable in the subject and present their analysis with clarity and confidence." -- Klejda Mulaj "Challenges for America in the Middle East has several strengths, including its fine detail, up-to-date information, and explanation of complicated processes and phenomena. It does a great job connecting issues addressed in the Middle East to conduct of U.S. foreign policy. There is a market demand for a book of this kind, and I believe Mansbach and Taylor have filled it." -- Ivan Dinev Ivanov