NES 2686

NES 2686

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2021-2022.

This course examines the history of the United States' involvement with Middle East beginning with evangelical efforts in the 19th century and President Wilson's engagement with the colonial powers in the early 20th century during and after WWI. The discovery of vast Middle Eastern oil reserves and the retreat of the colonial powers from the region following WWII drew successive US administrations ever deeper into Middle Eastern politics. In due course, the US became entrenched in the post-colonial political imagination as heir to the British and the French especially as it challenged the Soviet Union for influence in the region during the Cold War. And that only takes the story to the mid-1950s and the Eisenhower administration. Our discussions will be based on secondary readings and primary sources as we interrogate the tension between realist and idealist policies toward the Middle East and trace how these tensions play out in subsequent developments including the origins and trajectory of the US strategic alliances with Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey and conflict with Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the two Gulf Wars.

When Offered Fall.

Distribution Category (HA-AS, HST-AS)
Course Attribute (CU-ITL)

View Enrollment Information

Syllabi: none
  •   Regular Academic Session.  Choose one lecture and one discussion. Combined with: AMST 2686HIST 2686JWST 2686

  • 3 Credits Stdnt Opt

  • 18008 NES 2686   LEC 001

  • Instruction Mode: In Person

  • 18010 NES 2686   DIS 201

    • F White Hall B06
    • Aug 26 - Dec 7, 2021
    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: In Person

  • 18011 NES 2686   DIS 202

    • F White Hall 114
    • Aug 26 - Dec 7, 2021
    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: In Person

  • 18012 NES 2686   DIS 203

    • F White Hall 114
    • Aug 26 - Dec 7, 2021
    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: In Person

  • 18013 NES 2686   DIS 204

    • F White Hall B14
    • Aug 26 - Dec 7, 2021
    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: In Person

  • 18014 NES 2686   DIS 205

    • F White Hall 104
    • Aug 26 - Dec 7, 2021
    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: In Person

  • 18015 NES 2686   DIS 206

    • F White Hall 104
    • Aug 26 - Dec 7, 2021
    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: In Person