Balancing Act

Vaughn P Shannon is Assistant Professor within the Department of Political Science at Wright State University, USA

'In a concise yet wide-ranging analysis, Vaughn Shannon traces America's complex undertaking in the Middle East since World War Two. He shows clearly and persuasively that the formulation of US policy has been constrained by two competing pressures: the geo-strategic need for security and access to oil which requires good relations with the Arabs ranged against electoral and interest-group politics that entail a pro-Israeli stance. The result is that on many occasions, successive American administrations tried to please all parties to the conflict, but often ended up pleasing no one. The prose is fluid and accessible, yet analytically rigorous, and a volatile subject matter is treated with admirable neutrality.' Adeed Dawisha, author of Arab Nationalism in the Twentieth Century: From Triumph to Despair 'This work is especially recommended for undergraduates who seek to understand the dynamics shaping US policy toward the Middle East in recent decades. It is especially useful in highlighting the role of domestic politics in affecting foreign policy.' Professor Gifford B. Doxsee, Ohio University, Athens '...a very structured and analytical approach...an excellent monograph...Shannon does a masterful job of situating and assessing US policy success or failure within this three-cornered framework.' Journal of Energy Literature '...Vaughn Shannon's work offers a significant contribution to our existing knowledge of the conflict and enriches our understanding of it...Shannon's well-documented monograph is timely.' Etudes internationales 'Shannon has written a concise and thorough introduction to the Israeli-Arab problem...This book should be more than adaquate as a research tool or as a graduate reader. Yet its easily followed prose makes it suitable for the layman as well...this book is a recommendable read.' Contemporary Security Policy '...a timely contribution to the understanding of US foreign policy toward the Arab-Israeli conflict...On balance, Balancing Act is well researched and analytically sound. It is recommended for policy makers, journalists, and upper-level undergraduate and graduate classes related to Middle East politics, US foreign policy, and the Arab-Israeli conflict...' International Journal of Middle East Studies

• Contents: Introduction; Context of conflict: perspectives on the Arab-Israeli conflict; Present at the creation: US policy to 1949; Evolution of a 'Special Relationship': 1949-1967; War and peace: 1967-1979; From Cold War to Gulf War: new threats and new opportunities, 1979-1991; Implementing Oslo: 1991-2000; After Oslo: the politics of peace and terror, 2000-2002; Conclusion: assessing the balance sheet; Bibliography; Index.