ABSTRACT

This book examines the deep-seated problems in the Middle East and their impact on the United States and its allies. Exploring the disruptive effects of the double-edged sword of nationalism and modernization, the contributors discuss the full range of Western security interests in the region. Case studies of key countries emphasize the prospect for peaceful political, economic, and cultural change. The authors analyze the ramifications of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the threats posed by Soviet penetration. Arguing that confusion and contradiction mark U.S. policy in the Middle East, the book concludes that U.S. strategists should focus not on curing the region's internal problems but on coping with them without sacrificing long-term goals for quick fixes.

chapter |11 pages

Introduction

part One|123 pages

Stability and Change Within the Region

chapter 1|16 pages

Syria

chapter 2|14 pages

Lebanon

chapter 3|16 pages

Israel

chapter 4|28 pages

Egypt

chapter 5|12 pages

Saudi Arabia

chapter 6|15 pages

Iraq

chapter 7|20 pages

Iran

part Two|78 pages

The Palestinian Quagmire: Searching for a Way Out