J. K. Gani is a Fellow in the Department of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science, UK.

'J.K. Gani's book will take its place with the handful of classics written on Syria-US relations. Based on US archival evidence and memoirs of diplomats and leaders, it throws new light on US policy and perceptions and evinces an empathic understanding of Syria's frustrations with Washington's inability to pursue an even-handed approach to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Particularly masterful is Gani's dissection of the failure of the Syrian-Israel peace negotiations - a tour d' force that will make this volume indispensable to students of diplomacy in the Arab-Israel conflict." - Raymond Hinnebusch, University of St. Andrews, UK 'Gani's research is important, and she makes a distinct contribution to the subject of US-Syrian relations - a contribution that will be of service to academics and policymakers alike. She employs various inter-disciplinary methodological traits of history, international relations, and political science to weave together a new recounting and understanding of the history of US-Syrian relations.' - David W. Lesch, Ewing Halsell Distinguished Professor of History, Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, USA, and author of Syria: The Fall of the House of Assad

• PART I: THE EMERGENCE OF US-SYRIAN RELATIONS: FROM TRUMAN TO KENNEDY 1. The Rise of the US and the Roots of Syrian Mistrust 2. Independence, Coups and Revolution PART II: SYRIA'S ISOLATION AND THE BIRTH OF THE US-ISRAELI SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP 3. The 1967 Arab-Israeli War 4. Syria's post-war position and policy towards the US PART III: US-SYRIAN ENGAGEMENT: DISENGAGEMENT TALKS 1973 – 75 5. Initiating Peace Talks 6. From Compromise to Breakdown PART IV: US-SYRIAN COOPERATION IN THE POST-COLD WAR ERA 7. The Gulf War and Search for Comprehensive Peace 8. Failure of the Madrid Process