American Alliance Policy in the Middle East, 1945-1992: Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia

by John P. Miglietta

Overview

American Alliance Policy in the Middle East provides a stimulating, new look at a U.S. Cold War foreign policy gripped by anticommunist paranoia. Through case studies of America's relationships with Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, John P. Miglietta reveals how an overriding fear of global communism led to the overcommitment of U.S. security resources to the region. The perceived need to preserve Middle East stability rendered U.S. policy ineffectual and unresponsive to changing local conditions, drastically altering the patron-client paradigm to the detriment of American strategic interests. This superb analysis of American foreign policymaking illustrates how Cold War anticommunist ideology prevented the evolution of traditional military alliances into broader-based relationships and perpetuated authoritarian regimes that mired the Middle East in a cycle of poverty and despotism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739103043
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	08/15/2002
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	6.32(w) x 9.22(h) x 1.27(d)

About the Author

John P. Miglietta is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Tennessee State University.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Alliances, American Foreign Policy, and International Relations Theory Chapter 2 The United States and Iran: The Forging of an Alliance Chapter 3 The United States and Iran: The Implications of the New Persian Empire Chapter 4 The Origins of the American-Israeli Alliance: 1948-1960 Chapter 5 The Establishment and Implications of the U.S.-Israel Alliance Chapter 6 The Origins of the U.S.-Saudi Alliance Chapter 7 The Strategic Implications of the American-Saudi Alliance Chapter 8 Conclusions

Editorial Reviews

Taking the friendly relations, at various times, between the United States and Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia as case studies, Miglietta (political science, Tennessee State U.) examines and critiques the development of U.S. alliance strategy during the Cold War and beyond. American alliance policy was forged in the crucible of the rivalry with the Soviet Union and it is suggested that the collection of alliances was considered a zero- sum game with the communist enemy. Too often, appeasing the needs of the ally was viewed as crucial for maintaining American credibility, argues Miglietta. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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