Obama and the Middle East The End of America's Moment?

by Gerges, Fawaz A.

• ISBN13: 9780230113817
• ISBN10: 0230113818
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-05-22
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Summary

During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised to distance the United States from the neoconservative foreign policy legacy of his predecessor, George W. Bush, and usher in a new era of a global, interconnected world. More than two years have passed since his inauguration, and the reality of President Obama's approach is in stark contrast to the ebullient and optimistic image that he originally built up. In fact, Obama is not committed to redefining U.S. foreign policy in a transformational way, but calibrating and correcting the Bush policies, and reclaiming the neorealist approach that defined America's foreign policy since WWII. Taking stock of Obama's first year in the White House, this book places his engagement in the Middle East within the broader context of U.S. foreign policy since 9/11 and examines key areas that have posed a challenge to his administration. Middle East expert Fawaz Gerges highlights the administration's widening credibility gap and lack of resolve and political will to directly confront policy challenges head-on, and offer essential strategic recommendations for advancing U.S. relations with the Muslim World.

Author Biography

Fawaz A. Gerges is a professor of Middle Eastern Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he is chair of the Middle East Centre. He was a senior ABC television news analyst from 2000 until 2007 and has been a guest on Charlie Rose, Oprah, ABC Nightline, and other prominent shows. He has contributed pieces to The New York Times, The Washington Post, International Herald Tribune, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Middle East Journal, Al Mustaqbal al-Arabi, and many others. He lives in London.

Table of Contents

Praise for Journey of the Jihadist: Inside Muslim Militancy:
“Memorable, nondogmatic, and full of fresh insights-none of them comforting for anyone who hopes for an end to the so-called Long War.”               —Kirkus Reviews

“The author's ability to explain complex issues in a jargon-free and easy-flowing narrative makes this book one of the best, most useful, and most timely volumes for nonspecialist readers. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries.”     
              --Library Journal
“Gerges's writings and predictions regarding Islamism and jihad have been accurate so far, and of late are guardedly optimistic in assessing a Muslim world tiring of autocratic rulers and amenable to respect for human rights.”               

--The Village Voice