May Darwich is Lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Birmingham. Her research focusing on bringing Middle East cases to debates within international relations theory, has appeared in internationally renowned journals, including Foreign Policy Analysis, the Journal of Global Security Studies, Democratization, Mediterranean Politics and Global Discourse.

'May Darwich presents a subtle and convincing argument about how identities and material interests intersect in alliance choice. Her framework not only illuminates her cases, but suggests a path forward in dealing with the larger theoretical issue.' Gause, III F. Gregory, Texas A & M University

• 1. Introduction: debating threat perception; 2. Why and when states perceive threats: a theoretical framework; 3. The Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988); 4. The 2006 Lebanon War; 5. The 2009 Gaza War; 6. Conclusion.

May Darwich is Lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Birmingham. Her research focusing on bringing Middle East cases to debates within international relations theory, has appeared in internationally renowned journals, including Foreign Policy Analysis, the Journal of Global Security Studies, Democratization, Mediterranean Politics and Global Discourse.

'May Darwich presents a subtle and convincing argument about how identities and material interests intersect in alliance choice. Her framework not only illuminates her cases, but suggests a path forward in dealing with the larger theoretical issue.' Gause, III F. Gregory, Texas A & M University

• 1. Introduction: debating threat perception; 2. Why and when states perceive threats: a theoretical framework; 3. The Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988); 4. The 2006 Lebanon War; 5. The 2009 Gaza War; 6. Conclusion.

May Darwich is Lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Birmingham. Her research focusing on bringing Middle East cases to debates within international relations theory, has appeared in internationally renowned journals, including Foreign Policy Analysis, the Journal of Global Security Studies, Democratization, Mediterranean Politics and Global Discourse.

'May Darwich presents a subtle and convincing argument about how identities and material interests intersect in alliance choice. Her framework not only illuminates her cases, but suggests a path forward in dealing with the larger theoretical issue.' Gause, III F. Gregory, Texas A & M University

• 1. Introduction: debating threat perception; 2. Why and when states perceive threats: a theoretical framework; 3. The Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988); 4. The 2006 Lebanon War; 5. The 2009 Gaza War; 6. Conclusion.