HISTORY OF US-MIDDLE
EAST RELATIONS
AMST 224--SPRING 2006
Colin S. Cavell,
Ph.D. Course Room No.: S17-229
Class SMW: 11:00-11:50 INTERNET: cscpo@arts.uob.bh
Office Hours: By appointment Office No.: S17-263
VOICE: 17438775 (W) 17729091 (H)
The
historical development of the US approach and policies toward the Middle East since the colonial era, with special
emphasis on the relationship from World War I to the present.
Grading
Policy: 20% for Attendance*; 20% for the Class
Presentation; 20% for the Midterm Exam; 20% for the Research Paper; and 20% for
the Final Exam. A Guidelines sheet will be distributed outlining the
requirements for your Class Presentation and for your Research Paper.
Grading
Scale: 93-100=A; 90-92=A-; 88-89=B+; 83-87=B;
80-82=B-; 78-79=C+; 73-77=C; 70-72=C-; 68-69=D+; 63-67=D; 60-62=D-; 0-59=F
Attendance
Policy*: Attendance in class is mandatory. It is the student’s responsibility to sign
the attendance sheet each day of class; failure to sign the attendance
sheet—even if in attendance—will be counted as an absence. If your unexcused absences exceed 25% of the
total number of lectures of the course in this semester, you will be
automatically withdrawn from the course and be given a grade of (WF) which will
be counted towards your GPA. As well,
you are expected to follow the syllabus and accordingly be prepared for each
day’s class. This means that you must
read the pre-assigned readings before class so that you will be prepared to
discuss and debate in class the subject matter scheduled for that day and
answer questions related to the issues being covered. NOTE:
TURN OFF all cell phones during class.
*Absence from class may be made up by preparing a two-page, typed (i.e. using maximum 12 point font size and maximum
double-spaced text with one-inch margin on all sides), summary on the missed material scheduled to be covered the
day(s) of your absence. The summary must
be in your own words and must not be copied material from the text(s),
the internet, or any other source(s).
Times New Roman font is strongly recommended; however, if you use an
alternative style, make sure your font does not resemble italic or bold text. Also, Comic Sans MS font is not allowed.
Required Texts:
Lesch,
David W., Ed. 1999. The Middle East and the United
States:
A Historical and Political Reassessment.
Second Edition. New York, NY: Westview
Pess.
Melani McAlister. 2001/2005.
Epic Encounters: Culture, Media and U. S. Interests in the Middle East, 1945-2000, Second
Edition. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. [0-520-24499-0]
Weatherby,
Joseph N. 2002. The Middle East and North Africa: A Political Primer. New York, NY: Longman.
Helpful Websites and
Online Newsletters:
Al
Bawaba: The Middle East Gateway
<http://www.albawaba.com/>
ArabNet
<http://www.arab.net/>
Saudi-U.S.
Relations Information Service <http://www.saudi-us-relations.org/>
GulfWire
Digest <http://www.arabialink.com/GulfWire/CurrentDigest.htm>
Feb. 18: Introduction to U.S.-Middle East Relations
Feb. 20: The Cultural
Politics of Encounter
Required Readings: McAlister, Preface,
Introduction: “Middle East Interests,”
pp. xi-xv & pp. 1-4
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Preface,
pp. xi-xii
Feb. 22: Middle East
Interests, Moral Geographies and the Cultural Field, Orientalism and Beyond,
The Middle East as “Holy
Land”
Required Readings: McAlister, Introduction,
“Moral Geographies and Cultural Field,” “Orientalism and Beyond,” pp. 4-12
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 1 “Middle
East Geography: Introduction,” pp. 1-2
Feb. 25: Shopping the Orient, Expanding Interests,
Defining the Middle East and Its People, Contested Encounters
Required Readings: McAlister, Introduction,
“The Middle East as ‘Holy
Land’,” pp. 13-20
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 1, “Middle
East Geography: Where Is the Middle East?,” pp. 2-4
Feb. 27: “Benevolent Supremacy”
Required Readings: McAlister, Introduction,
“Shopping the Orient,” pp. 20-29
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 1, “Middle
East Geography: What Special Names Are Associated with the Middle East and North Africa?,” pp. 4-9
Mar. 1: “Benevolent Supremacy”
Required Readings: McAlister, Introduction,
“Expanding Interests,” pp. 29-35
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 1, “Middle
East Geography: What Geographical Features Make Up the Middle East and North Africa?,” pp. 9-19
Mar. 4: The Middle East in
African American Cultural Politics, 1955-1972
Required Readings: McAlister, Introduction,
“Defining the Middle East and Its People,” “Contested Encounters,” pp. 35-42
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 1, “Middle
East Geography: What Are the Important Rivers in the Middle East and North Africa?,” pp. 19-23
Mar. 6: “Benevolent Supremacy”
Required Readings: McAlister, Ch. 1, “Benevolent Supremacy: The Biblical Epic at the Dawn of the American
Century, 1947-1960” pp. 43-47
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 1, “Middle
East Geography: Where Are Some of the Famous Smaller but Important
Cities?,” pp. 23-27
Mar. 8: “Benevolent
Supremacy”
Required Readings: McAlister, Ch. 1, “The Biblical Epic at the Dawn of the American
Century, 1947-1960,” “The Moment of NSC-68,” pp. 47-55
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 1, “Middle
East Geography: Where Are the Famous Dead ‘Cities of the
Sand’?,” pp. 27-32
Mar. 8: [Last day for dropping courses]
Mar. 11-Apr. 26: [Withdrawal
period with a “W”]
Mar. 10-12: Bahrain Grand Prix [Holidays—No classes]
Mar. 13: “Benevolent Supremacy”
Required Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 1, “Middle
East Geography: What Special Names Are Associated with the Middle East and North Africa?,” pp. 4-9
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 1, “Middle
East Geography: What Additional Terms Are Important to
Know?,” pp. 32-36
Mar. 15: “Benevolent Supremacy”
Required Readings: McAlister, Ch. 1, “The
‘History’ of Epics,” “The People of the Epics,” pp. 56-67
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 2, “The Geostrategic Middle East and North Africa: Introduction,
and Why Are the Middle East and North
Africa Geographically
Important Areas,” pp. 37-38
Mar. 18: “Benevolent Supremacy”
Required Readings: McAlister, Ch. 1, “The Gendered Logics of the Slave State,” “The Middle East and Benevolent Supremacy,” pp. 67-83
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 2, “The Geostrategic Middle East and North Africa: What Are the
Politics of Geography in the Middle
East and North Africa?,” p. 39
Mar. 20: African American Cultural Politics
Required Readings: McAlister, Ch. 2, Introduction, “‘That Marvellous Movement’,” “The
Nation and Its Limits,” pp. 84-91
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 2, “The Geostrategic Middle East and North Africa: Who Are the
Geographic Theorists Whose Ideas Have Influenced the Politics of the Middle East and North Africa?,” pp. 39-41
Mar. 22: African American Cultural Politics
Required Readings: McAlister, Ch. 2, “One Black Allah,” “Communities in Conflict,” pp.
101-115
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 2, “The Geostrategic Middle East and North Africa: How Do These
Four Theories of Global Strategy Apply to the Study of a Region Such as the Middle East and North Africa?,” pp. 41-44
Mar. 25: African American Cultural Politics
Required Readings: McAlister, Ch. 2, “Beyond Islam,” “And Beyond the Black Atlantic,” pp. 115-124
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 2, “The Geostrategic Middle East and North Africa: What Events
Dragged the Middle East and North
Africa into the Containment
of Russian Communism Strategy?,” pp. 44-49
Mar. 27: ASC Symposium: “Diverse Voices in American Literature”
Class Will Attend Symposium Readings
Mar. 29: ASC Symposium: “Diverse Voices in American Literature”
Class Will Attend Symposium Readings
Apr. 1: King Tut, Commodity Nationalism
Required Readings: McAlister, Ch. 3, Introduction, pp. 125-127
Apr. 3: King Tut, Commodity Nationalism
Required Readings: McAlister, Ch. 3, Introduction, “Making Art at the Met,” “Oil and the
Universal Heritage,” pp. 127-140
Apr. 5: King Tut, Commodity Nationalism
Required Readings: McAlister, Ch. 3, “The Blackness of Egypt,” pp. 140-149
Apr. 8: King Tut, Commodity Nationalism
Required Readings: McAlister, Ch. 3, “Selling Blackness, American Style,” pp. 149-154
Apr. 10: Prophet’s
Birthday [Holiday—No classes]
Apr. 12: Midterm Exam
Apr. 15-19: Mid-semester break [No classes]
Apr. 22: From Idealism to Realism: Wilsonian Intent to Cold War Practice
Required Readings: Lesch, Preface
to the Third Edition, Note on the Text, Introduction, Ch. 1, “The Ironic Legacy
of the King-Crane Commission,” pp. xi-29
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 2, “The Geostrategic Middle East and North Africa: What Are Some
of the Most Important Geopolitical Flashpoints in the Middle East and North Africa?,” pp. 49-65
Apr. 24: Graduation [Holiday—No classes]
Apr. 26: From Idealism to Realism: Wilsonian Intent to Cold War Practice
Required Readings: Lesch,
Ch. 5, “The Mussadiq Era in Iran, 1951-1953: A
Contemporary Diplomat’s View,” pp. 78-86
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 2, “The Geostrategic Middle East and North Africa: Words
Commonly Used in Describing the Politics of Geography in the Middle East and North Africa,” pp. 65-68
Apr. 29: The Cold War in the Middle East
Required Readings: Lesch,
Ch. 6, “National Security Concerns in U.S. Policy Toward Egypt, 1949-1956,” pp. 89-99
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 3, “The Politics of Religion in the Middle East and North Africa:
Introduction,” pp. 69-70
May 1: International
Labor Day [Holiday—No Classes]
May 3: The Cold War in the Middle East
Required Readings: Lesch,
Ch. 7, “The Perils of Ambiguity: The United States and the Baghdad Pact,” pp. 100-119
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 3, “The Politics of Religion in the Middle East and North Africa: Why Is
Religion Important in the Middle
East and North Africa?,” pp. 70-71
May 6: The Cold War in the Middle East
Required Readings: Lesch,
Ch. 10, “U.S. Policy and Military Intervention in the 1958 Lebanon Crisis,” pp. 149-167
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 3, “The Politics of Religion in the Middle East and North Africa: What Is the
Most Influential Religion in the Politics of the Middle East and North Africa?,” pp. 71-89
May 8: The Cold War in the Middle East
Required Readings: Lesch,
Ch. 11, “The United States and Nasserist Pan-Arabism,” pp. 168-187
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 3, “The Politics of Religion in the Middle East and North Africa: What Is the
History of Christianity in the Middle
East and North Africa?,” pp. 89-94
May 10: War and Peace, War and Peace
Required Readings: Lesch,
Ch. 12, “The 1967 Arab-Israeli War: U.S. Actions and Arab Perceptions,” pp. 191-210
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 3, “The Politics of Religion in the Middle East and North Africa: What Is the
History of the Jews of the Middle
East and North Africa?” and “Who Are the Zoroastrians,” pp. 94-100
May 13: War and Peace, War and Peace
Required Readings: Lesch,
Ch. 14, “The United States and Israel: The Nature of
a Special Relationship,” pp. 233-251
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 4, “The Politics of Culture in the Middle East and North Africa:
Introduction,” pp. 101-103
May 15: American Held Hostage
Film:
American
Held Hostage (In “Becoming Free, Episode 16), VHS (17 minutes) (Start at 34:00)
May 17: The Gulf
Crisis and War [Last Day for In-Class Presentations]
Required Readings: Lesch,
Ch. 17, “The United States in the Persian
Gulf: From Twin Pillars to Dual Containment”
May 20: The Gulf
Crisis and War
Required Readings: Lesch,
Ch. 18, “Kuwait and the United States: The Reluctant
Ally and U.S. Policy Toward the Gulf,” pp. 308-327
Recommended Readings: Weatherby, Ch. 4, “The Politics of Culture in the Middle East and North Africa: Is There a
Single Race of People in the Middle
East and North Africa?,” pp. 103-120
May 22: The Gulf
Crisis and War
Required Readings: Lesch,
Ch. 20, “From ‘Over the Horizon’ to ‘Into the
Backyard’: The U.S.-Saudi Relationship
and the Gulf War,” pp. 357-370
May 24: The Gulf Crisis and War
Required Readings: Lesch,
Ch. 21, “The Soviet Union, the Gulf War, and Its
Aftermath: A Case Study in Limited
Superpower Cooperation,” pp. 371-393.
May 27: US efforts to
promote political, economic, and education reform in the Middle East [Research Papers Due]
Required Readings: Lesch,
Ch. 23, “The U.S.-GCC Relationship: Is It a Glass Leaking or a Glass Filling?”,
pp. 406-427
May 29:
Retrospective and Reassessment
Required Readings: Lesch,
Ch. 24, “The Push and Pull of Strategic Cooperation: The U.S. Relationship with Turkey in the Middle
East,” pp. 428-442
May 31:
Retrospective and Reassessment
Required Readings:
Lesch, Ch.
25, “The United States
and Afghanistan,” pp. 443-458
June 3: Retrospective and Reassessment
Required Readings: Lesch,
Ch. 27, “Islamist Perceptions of U.S. Policy in the Middle East”, pp. 467-490
June 5: Retrospective and Reassessment; Last day of class;
Review
Required Readings: Lesch, Postscript, “Americans and the Muslim
World—First Encounters”, pp. 491-501
June 14: Final Exam 11:30-13:30
June 22: Last day for
submitting grades