US Foreign Policy in the Middle East: The Roots of Anti-Americanism

Over the last sixty years, Washington has been a major player in the politics of the Middle East. From Iran in the 1950s, to the Gulf War of 1991, to the devastation of contemporary Iraq, US policy has had a profound impact on the domestic affairs of the region. Anti-Americanism is a pervasive feature of modern Middle East public opinion. But far from being intrinsic to ‘Muslim political culture’, scepticism of the US agenda is directly linked to the regional policies pursued by Washington.

By exploring critical points of regional crisis, Kylie Baxter and Shahram Akbarzadeh elaborate on the links between US policy and popular distrust of the United States. The book also examines the interconnected nature of events in this geo-strategically vital region. Accessible and easy to follow, it is designed to provide a clear and concise overview of complex historical and political material. Key features include:

• maps illustrating key events and areas of discontent
• text boxes on topics of interest related to the Arab/Israeli Wars, Iranian politics, foreign interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, the wars of the Persian Gulf, September 11 and the rise of Islamist movements
• further reading lists and a selection of suggested study questions at the end of each chapter.

Dr Kylie Baxter is Deputy Director of the Centre for Muslim Minorities & Islam Policy Studies at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Her research focuses on Islamic politics and conflict in the Middle East. She is also the author of British Muslims and the Call to Global Jihad (Melbourne: Monash Asia Institute Press: 2007).

Associate Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh is Director of the Centre for Muslim Minorities & Islam Policy Studies at Monash University, Australia. His research focuses on Australian Muslims, international relations and Islamic politics. He is also the author of Uzbekistan and the United States: Islamism, Authoritarianism and Washington's Security Agenda (London: Zed Books, 2005).