...In the light of the developing Iranian nuclear capability, assess the continuity and change in contemporary American foreign policy towards Iran’s quest to become a regional hegemon. This study begins with the premise that Iran and Iraq were, following the end of the Cold War, seen as the two obstacles to American hegemony in the Middle East. America has always had strong strategic interest in the area. During the Cold War, the Middle East was one of the battlegrounds from which to contain the Soviet Union, and therefore all policy was generally in line with preventing Soviet domination of the area through containment and deterrence, thereby protecting American strategic interests. With the Soviet threat confined to history, America found itself without a global competitor in what has been called The Unipolar Moment (Krauthammer 1990). This dissertation seeks to understand and analyse how the administrations in power in America during the unipolar moment have adapted their thinking towards the Middle East beyond Cold War paradigms, chiefly in reference to the rise of Iran as a possible regional hegemon bolstered by its nuclear ambitions. In order to understand this question, the analysis will examine changing ideological perspectives and the effects of those perspectives on the exercise of foreign policy. The study will focus primarily on the policies of the William J. Clinton (Clinton) and George W. Bush (Bush II) administrations. The reasoning for this is one of context...
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...Introduction Most references are often made to the "Jewish lobby" with the purpose of describing Jewish political influence in the United States. This offers a shallow and an inadequate position. It is evident that Americans of Jewish descent are at times represented by lobbyists. However, such direct efforts to influence the policy making process are but a small part of the lobby’s ability to shape policy, (Bard, 2004). According to Teitelbaum, (2010), the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is a registered lobby being one of the organized groups that try to influence legislation. Other groups like B’nai B’rith and Hadassah do not engage in direct lobbying. However, they disseminate information while encouraging their members to become more involved in political processes. Most times they specifically attempt to lobby on specific issues though they have rarely influenced policy. The Israel lobby grew significantly in the 1980s, but controversy arose from opponents of the lobby and supporters. This was due to the proposed sale of the AWACS warning and command system in 1981 to Saudi Arabia, (Teitelbaum, 2010). This angered many Israeli supporters in the United States. The sale was intended to appease Arab nations in an attempt to promote stability...
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...DEVELOPMENT CENTRE Policy Insights No. 96 May 2012 The Middle-Income Trap: Comparing Asian and Latin American Experiences by Anna Jankowska, Arne J. Nagengast and José Ramón Perea ♦♦ Chinese Taipei; Hong Kong, China; Korea and Singapore (the East Asian Newly Industrialised Countries or NICs) have been successful in attaining income convergence with high-income countries while Latin American countries remain caught in the Middle-Income Trap. ♦♦ The East Asian NICs pursued export-led growth by targeting strategic industries which facilitated gradual diversification and upgrading into new products that required similar skills and inputs. ♦♦ Comparing the experience of the NICs to Latin American economies reveals that successful diversification and upgrading of a country’s export structure requires coherent and complimentary policies in the areas of education, infrastructure, innovation and access to finance. The experience of Latin American with the Middle-Income Trap has been very different from that of the NICs. While the latter were able to surpass middle-income status in a relatively brief period of time, Latin American countries have remained in the middle-income zone for decades. This contrast can serve as an illustrative basis for comparison for new countries entering the middle-income group. The East Asian NICs’ recipe for income convergence: gradual upgrading towards higher value industries The Asian NICs’ experiences suggest that escaping the Middle-Income Trap is a function...
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...United States and the Middle East For the past few decades, United States foreign policy has revolved around the situation in the Middle East. This is due mostly to the fact that tensions between the United States and the Islamic countries of the Middle East are always high. Also with the United States’ most valuable resource, oil, found in highest supply in the Middle East, America has a vested economic interest into the political stability of the region. However, after a costly war in Iraq that tarnished our image not only in the Middle East but around the world and a situation in Israel that hasn’t shown any lasting progress for decades, it’s time for the United States to take another look at its political strategy for achieving lasting peace in the region. With the events of early 2011 in the Middle East, otherwise known as Arab Spring, the region has become highly unstable and vulnerable to the influences of terrorism. This is a critical time for the United States to reestablish healthy diplomatic relations in the region in order to decrease the spread terrorism and harsh anti-American sentiment as well as bring about a lasting peace. In order for America to improve its foreign affairs in the Middle East it needs to finish strong in Iraq and Afghanistan, reach a peace agreement in Israel, push for more diplomacy with Iran, and support the rebels in Syria fighting injustice. By involving the rest of the world in the current situation in the Middle East the United States...
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...Conversations with History Name: Course: Tutor: Date: From the interview between Mearsheimer John and Steve Walt, the audience learns that the issue of the foreign policy in the United States is quite sensitive. The fact that the U.S is a super power and has a higher hand in as far as world politics and affairs are concerned makes its policies to be quite sharp edged. The domestic politics and affiliations of the United States are not just domestic since the world watches and follow them closely to understand their orientation and hence use it to make their own decisions. One of the areas that stand out from the United States’ policies is that of Israel and their close connection to the government of the US. The main issue from the book that is being discussed is that of the US policy towards Israel. The formation of a lobby group to analyze and look into the issue of the Israeli and Palestine conflict is seen as a hypocritical move by the United States in trying to appease the external countries while not acting in the interest of the local Americans. The author is categorical in his argument that the United States government is one that is surrounded by influences that go beyond the common good of the American people. The policies that have been set by the country are sometimes considered to contradict with the social justice systems, and the interest of some groups of people is given a higher priority to others. The fact that the...
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...The transition from British to American hegemony in the Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf is a region of many conflicting interest. The name itself already offers a good example of this, since it is the center of a politicized debate between those preferring Persian Gulf and those preferring Arabian Gulf. Although this debate will not be further explored in this paper – it was decided to use the term “Persian Gulf” as it is most commonly used – this paper will delve deeper into the transition from British to American hegemony in the Persian Gulf and review how various aspects of this are described and interpreted in the literature. This paper will deal with this transition between the years of 1945, the end of the Second World War, and 1971, the year that the British completed their military withdrawal from the Persian Gulf. Even though the Americans were interested in the area before the WWII, the year 1945 was chosen as a starting point because the war had severely altered the power equilibrium between the great powers the United States of America and Britain were considered as at that time. During the Cold War, which started in 1946 the importance of the region was on the rise, both because of the oil and because of the containment policy against the Russians. The relevance of the region was on the rise for America in particular because the power of Britain was waning in the post-war era. Britain, faced with economic hardship, imperial fatigue, and events of humiliation such...
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...States in particular. The relationship with Israel designates the foreign policy of the United States in regards to the rest of the Middle East. This thereby impacts foreign policy throughout the world. “The centerpiece of U.S. Middle East policy has been its relationship with Israel. The combination of unwavering U.S. support for Israel and the related effort to spread democracy throughout the region has inflamed Arab and Islamic opinion and jeopardized U.S. security.” (Mearsheimer and Walt, 1) The United States did not take an overly "sympathetic" position on the Zionist movement until the second decade of the 1900s. One main reason for their new support was the establishment in 1914 of the Provisional Executive Committee for General Zionist Affairs. On September 21, 1922, the United States Congress passed the Lodge-Fish resolution, which lent the support of the United States for Zionists to establish a homeland in Palestine. In May of 1942 at the Biltimore Conference, the Zionists made the declaration that Palestine needed to be recognized as a "Jewish Commonwealth." (Oren, 442) The end of the Second World War brought about two changes in the Middle East. The first of these changes was the decolonization of the Middle Eastern states; Britain and France withdrew from some of their colonies early on, but remained in others for more years to come. The second of these changes was the involvement of the Middle East in the Cold War. “The most controversial of all withdrawals, Brown...
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...The Good, the Bad and the Worst An Assessment of the U.S relations and policies in the Middle East Gold and silver where the elements of wealth during the peak of mercantilism as the sole policy back then was the 3G’s policy (God, Gold and Glory) in the reign of the British and French Empires. Oil, however, climbed to the top of the chart of the most strategic commodities starting the early years of industrialization passing by the Second World War, when the U.S. became by far the largest oil consuming nation; consuming oil at abundant rates to support their troops overseas and to maintain the high rate of consumerism of the American lifestyle in the homeland. Soon oil grabbed the attention of the top industrialist nations as the most critical element of their survival as super industrial economies to ensure their growing manufacturing base is supported by adequate oil supplies. Having almost two thirds of the oil reserve in the world, the Middle East became the center of attention for all industrial nations, some of which had more strategic plans than others. Both, Britain and the United States realized that their wealth and survival as super powers is so much correlated with their level of control and development of the Middle East oil-rich countries. However, the feasibility of running the Arabian states both politically and economically faded in the 20th century, since maintaining their administration was too expensive for the United Kingdom, and gradually started...
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...under-developed countries. The developed countries, including the United States, Canada, most of west Europe countries, Japan and Australia, are all free capitalist society with a well functioned democratic government and a free market economic system. The under-developed countries, including Russia and east Europe countries, India, China, Mexico, South America and Africa, are relative poor, where capitalism has not yet developed into a healthy form. In Middle East, Israel belongs to welldeveloped camp but the rest goes to under-developed category. In this essay I will discuss the history, the present and the future trend of politic and economic relationship between developed and under-developed countries. My purpose is to develop an intellectual framework, through which one could acquire a comprehensive understanding on basic characteristics of various human societies and their interaction in today’s world: where they were from; where they are now; and where they are likely heading to in future. I will illustrate that there are three different systems in under developed world: the under-developed capitalism, the totalitarian capitalism and the military imperialism of developed countries in Middle East. Developed countries, in dealing with under developed world, are in a very much favored position. They are with full strategic initiatives in the on-going global politic and economic game. The most serious threat to capitalist civilization remains to be the haunting ghost of Malthus, that is...
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...Lebanon The Israel Hamas Hezbollah Conflict The United States and the Israel-Hezbollah War Prof. Jeremy Pressman Although American soldiers were not involved in the fighting in Lebanon and Israel this past summer, the United States was nonetheless a central player in the war. U.S. policy was defined by staunch American support for Israel and repeated calls by U.S. officials to use the crisis as a means to get at the root causes of violence in the region. What were the American objectives in this war? Does a preliminary assessment suggest that Washington took steps toward achieving them? How does U.S. policy on the Arab-Israeli conflict look moving forward? American Objectives in the Israel-Hezbollah War Two global foreign policy commitments informed the United States view of the Israel-Hezbollah confrontation this past summer; the war on terror and the democratization of the Middle East. Since September 11, 2001, the American war on terror has been defined to include several different international actors. In his speech of September 20, 2001, President George W. Bush stated that the war would “not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated,” and that “any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime.” In addition, he warned, terrorists could not be accommodated but instead must be met by force. This approach has most directly been applied to al-Qaeda and its satellites...
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...TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY DURING THE COLD WAR Turkey followed a “belligerence” policy from the start of II. World War in 1939 until the start of war in 1945. The purpose of that time managers of Turkey, protect it from the damage of the war. The end of the war with the options in front of us, pushing us to act together with the Western bloc. The formation of these preferences is not a decision for an instant multi-dimensional factors, factors were created by a process. Turkey’s prefer of Western side, did not lead to acceptance by the West sincerely. European members of NATO did not want to risk of war again because of Turkey who was under the Soviet threat at that time. At the same time, they were not willing to impart that the U.S. Marshall Aid to Turkey. Britain lost its efficiency in the Middle East as in all the world and for that reason Britain was put forward a project that "Commander of the Middle East" which Turkey will play a key role for gain efficiency again. Due to U.S. opposition to this prediction, this project got shelved.In the "Containment Policy" process which started with Truman Doctrine by U.S. against the Soviet Bloc, military and geo-strategic location of Turkey opened the door to NATO membership.With North Korea's attack on South Korea, the Korean War started in 1950-53 and the Turkey participating in United States’s side, this was resulting against all suspicies and prejudice, Turkey took place between NATO member countries.Russians wishes to change of...
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... Vol. 4, No. 3; July 2012 Europe and the Middle East: From Imperialism to Liberal Peace? Raymond Hinnebusch1 1 School of International Relations, University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK Correspondence: Raymond Hinnebusch, School of International Relations, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AX, Scotland, UK. Tel: 44-1334-462-861. E-mail: rh10@st-andrews.ac.uk Received: November 24, 2011 Accepted: April 26, 2012 Online Published: July 1, 2012 doi:10.5539/res.v4n3p18 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/res.v4n3p18 Abstract Europe’s relation with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is discussed in the context of normative (International Society) and materialist approaches (World System’s Theory). First, European imperialism’s export of a flawed Westphalian state system is summarized. How Europe is “caught” between MENA and the US and co-opted into a division of labour toward the region is then surveyed. The gap between the normative rhetoric and actual inequitable outcomes and structures constructed under the Euro-Mediterranean partnership is examined, looking at the three “baskets” of economic developmental, political reform and cultural convergence. Four “hard cases,” EU policies toward Palestine, Iran, Syria and Turkey, illustrate the ambiguities of the EU’s approach to MENA. MENA public opinion’s ambivalence toward Europe reflects these realities. The conclusion is that the EU’sMENA policy is caught between the rhetoric of post-colonialism...
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...A Relationship on the Rocks: The United States and Israel Since 1948 Adrienne Jacobs American Foreign Policy Dr. Dua May 2012 The relationship between the United States is one of the most turbulent and debated relationships in world history. Throughout the ages, since its establishment in 1948, Israel has been confronted with eight different American presidents, and eight varying attitudes toward Israel as a state, how the US-Israeli relationship should be dealt with, and the question of Palestine and its people. In this piece, we will review the history of the US-Israeli relationship in six episodes of history, and how US foreign policy on Israel has shifted over the decades to what it is today, and we will then discuss the prospect for Israel, Israel-Palestine, and US-Israel relations in the coming presidential term. Professor Robert Lieber of Georgetown University, and expert on US-Israeli relations asserts that the relationship between the United States and Israel in the past six decades can be separated into two schools of thought: the “special relationship paradigm,” and “national interest orientation.” The United States chose to be the first to recognize the State of Israel because at the time in 1948, and until today, the US Government believed that it shares certain common values and political aims. Under the special relationship paradigm, which still serves today as the basis of US support of Israel, the Truman Administration felt that Israel, like the US...
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...the Perception of Hatred for the Western World by the Middle Eastern/Muslim Community Introduction The concept of blowback refers to those unintended consequences which are suffered by the civil population of an aggressor government as a result of the covert operations of another government or international body. In the context of this research paper, the western world is portrayed as acting on intelligence to effect attacks against the Middle East, and the former emerges as the aggressor. To the affected civil population, the covert operations are perceived as random incidences of political violence, acts which have no justifiable cause. This perception can be attributed to the fact that the civil population is largely ignorant of the underlying causes that necessitated the attack or counter-attack. As a result, this perception creates sentiments of hatred for the western world with the common view being that the native Middle Eastern community is being victimized for its inherent cultural or religious beliefs. According to Brown, the concept of blowback was first coined by the Central Intelligence Agency and refers to the negative consequences of foreign policies that were kept secret by the agency from the American people (74). Brown notes that the frequent reports that are often aired by the media on the malign acts of terrorists, illegal arms merchants or drug lords are usually blowbacks from previous American Intelligence operations. This subsequently explains why...
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...March 19, 2012 Much to American anger and displeasure, India is in no mood to reduce its energy ties with Iran. Let us say that the Indian policy makers are cognizant of some of the critical facts concerning Iran. * That the international community has serious misgivings about the peaceful intentions of the Iranian nuclear programme. * That India is formally opposed to a nuclear Iran. * That under American sanctions, in December 2010 India had to terminate the Asian Customs Union (ACU) arrangement to pay for its oil imports from Iran. * That alternative payment arrangements through Germany, Turkey and the UAE were unsuccessful, finally forcing India and Iran to settle for partial rupee payment for oil imports. * That the rupee payment arrangement covers only 45 percent of the oil bill because the trade balance is highly in favour of Iran. * That State-own Shipping Corporation India has refused to ship crude from Iran because it could not find the necessary insurance cover. * That there are growing concerns over a possible Israeli military strike against Iranian nuclear installations. * That India would have learned some lessons from the September 2005 fiasco over the IAEA vote. Not only its anti-Iranian vote was a last minute decision, the manner in which it executed and explained its vote clearly revealed that New Delhi acted under pressure from Washington. This inept handling angered Tehran and displeased Washington. ...
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