A Vanishing West in the Middle East: The Recent History of US-Europe Cooperation in the Region

ISBN-13: 9780755644308 / Angielski / Twarda / 2022 / 272 str.

Charles Thépaut (The Washington Institute for Near East Poli

Opis

A Vanishing West in the Middle East covers the history of Western cooperation in the Middle East and North Africa since the end of the Cold War. Based on more than fifty interviews with diplomats and experts as well as consultations of the academic literature, it describes the operational and political frameworks through which the United States and European countries have intervened in the Arab world, and how their relations with the region have changed. Practitioner testimonies and detailed case studies illuminate U.S. successes and failures in enlisting allies for campaigns in Iraq, Syria, and Libya. This analysis goes to the heart of the American debate on “endless wars” but also questions the very concept of Western intervention in a region where the Arab Spring and subsequent uprisings have profoundly changed the geopolitical landscape. Today, whereas the United States wishes to pull back from the region, Europe understands it must become more involved. Whatever their particular motivations, both must adapt to an increasingly fragmented Middle East, influenced specifically by more assertive Chinese, Russian, Iranian, Emirati, and Turkish foreign policies.

Spis treści

Part I. U.S.-European Cooperation During the Unipolar Moment, 1990–2011 Ch. 1. Imbalances, Capability Gaps, and the History of Burden Sharing Ch. 2. Transatlantic Policymaking in the Middle East, and the Lack of Space for Cooperation Ch. 3. The Frustrating Search for Shared Platforms to Advance Common Interests Part II. The Arab Uprisings, U.S. Fatigue, and the Vanishing West, 2011–20 Ch. 4. Obama-Era Rhetoric vs. Reality Ch. 5. The Libya Quandary Ch. 6. Unfinished Defeat of the Islamic State Ch. 7. The JCPOA and Missed Opportunities to Pressure Iran Part III. The Effects of a Fragmented Middle East on Transatlantic Cooperation Ch. 8. State Collapse, Resilience, and the Quest for Dignity Ch. 9. The Missing New Regional Order Ch. 10. Potential Impacts of the Pandemic Ch. 11. Regional Perceptions of the United States and Europe Part IV. Widening Gaps in the U.S.-European Approach Ch. 12. European Weakness, European Autonomy—and the European South Ch. 13. The 2020 U.S. Vote and the Prospect of Recalibration Ch. 14. The State of Great Power Competition Part V. Reset: A New Chapter for the West in the Middle East Ch. 15. Transatlantic Partnership at a Crossroads Ch. 16. Avoiding the Temptation to Simply Restore Old Dynamics Ch. 17. Europe as an Asset in Great Power Politics Ch. 18. Priorities and Division of Labor Ch. 19. Capabilities and Burden Sharing Ch. 20. Institutions and Coalitions Ch. 21. Toward a Greater Emphasis on Soft Power