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Beyond America's Grasp: A Century of Failed Diplomacy in the Middle East
AN INCISIVE “WHITE PAPER” ON THE UNITED STATES’S STRUGGLE TO FRAME A COHERENT MIDDLE EAST POLICY
In this book, the Middle East expert Stephen P. Cohen traces U.S. policy in the region back to the breakup of the Ottoman Empire, when the Great Powers failed to take crucial steps to secure peace there. He sees in that early diplomatic failure a pattern shaping the conflicts since then—and America’s role in them.
A century ago, there emerged two dominant views regarding the uses of America’s newfound power. Woodrow Wilson urged America to promote national freedom and self-determination through the League of Nations—in stark contrast to his predecessor Theodore Roosevelt, who had advocated a vigorous foreign policy based on national self-interest.
Cohen argues that this running conflict has hobbled American dealings in the Middle East ever since. In concise, pointed chapters, he shows how different Middle East countries have struggled to define themselves in the face of America’s stated idealism and its actual realpolitik. This conflict came to a head in the confused, clumsy Middle East policy of George W. Bush—but Cohen suggests the ways a greater awareness of our history in the region might enable our present leaders to act more sensibly.
In this book, the Middle East expert Stephen P. Cohen traces U.S. policy in the region back to the breakup of the Ottoman Empire, when the Great Powers failed to take crucial steps to secure peace there. He sees in that early diplomatic failure a pattern shaping the conflicts since then—and America’s role in them.
A century ago, there emerged two dominant views regarding the uses of America’s newfound power. Woodrow Wilson urged America to promote national freedom and self-determination through the League of Nations—in stark contrast to his predecessor Theodore Roosevelt, who had advocated a vigorous foreign policy based on national self-interest.
Cohen argues that this running conflict has hobbled American dealings in the Middle East ever since. In concise, pointed chapters, he shows how different Middle East countries have struggled to define themselves in the face of America’s stated idealism and its actual realpolitik. This conflict came to a head in the confused, clumsy Middle East policy of George W. Bush—but Cohen suggests the ways a greater awareness of our history in the region might enable our present leaders to act more sensibly.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 27, 2009
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About the author
Stephen P. Cohen
16 books7 followersStephen P. Cohen is a Harvard-trained social psychologist who has focused his career on citizen diplomacy in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His success has been made possible by his extraordinary ability to communicate with both kings and radical extremists—and be trusted by both. In 1979 Dr. Cohen founded and has since been President of the Institute for Middle East Peace and Development, which remains his institutional base to serve as facilitator and private intermediary in peace-making and peace-building. He has pioneered too many efforts to list here, but suffice to say that he has worked with the highest levels of government and business leaders in creating innovative programs, not only in promoting peace, but economic development and social justice.
Dr. Cohen is widely credited as a major behind-the-scenes influence in several of the most important and successful peace initiatives in the Middle East. He created the first secret official negotiations between Israel and the PLO years before Oslo under the supervision of Chairman Arafat and Shimon Peres, launching the premier intermediaries of Israeli Prime Ministers and Yasser Arafat until the collapse of the peace process in the second intifada. He is a senior member of the United States group engaged in off-the-record US/Syria dialogue. He was the founding president of the foundations of Charles Bronfman, and he was the first President of S. Daniel Abraham's Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation. He also co-founded The Business Group for Middle East Peace and Development, co-chaired by Lester Crown.
Dr. Cohen served as a behind-the-scenes confidant of Israel's Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan and Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat in the launching of the peace process. He set up the first meetings between Shimon Peres and Sadat and between Yitzhak Rabin, Peres and Abba Eban with the leaders of Egypt’s National Democratic Party.
Dr. Cohen has developed close relations with Israeli leaders from all major parties, including Labor and Likud, religious and secular. On the Arab side, he has close relationships with heads of state, foreign ministers, and leading figures in almost every Arab state, including the deceased leaders, King Hussein, King Hassan and President Assad, as well as the current President of Egypt, President Mubarak, and the new successors of key states such as Lebanon, Syria, Algeria, Yemen and the Gulf States. He has a long history of transcending the limitations of particular partisan views and so has become a trusted ally to participants from all perspectives and has established unparalleled relationships and friendships in both Israel and the Arab countries.
Dr. Cohen is widely credited as a major behind-the-scenes influence in several of the most important and successful peace initiatives in the Middle East. He created the first secret official negotiations between Israel and the PLO years before Oslo under the supervision of Chairman Arafat and Shimon Peres, launching the premier intermediaries of Israeli Prime Ministers and Yasser Arafat until the collapse of the peace process in the second intifada. He is a senior member of the United States group engaged in off-the-record US/Syria dialogue. He was the founding president of the foundations of Charles Bronfman, and he was the first President of S. Daniel Abraham's Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation. He also co-founded The Business Group for Middle East Peace and Development, co-chaired by Lester Crown.
Dr. Cohen served as a behind-the-scenes confidant of Israel's Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan and Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat in the launching of the peace process. He set up the first meetings between Shimon Peres and Sadat and between Yitzhak Rabin, Peres and Abba Eban with the leaders of Egypt’s National Democratic Party.
Dr. Cohen has developed close relations with Israeli leaders from all major parties, including Labor and Likud, religious and secular. On the Arab side, he has close relationships with heads of state, foreign ministers, and leading figures in almost every Arab state, including the deceased leaders, King Hussein, King Hassan and President Assad, as well as the current President of Egypt, President Mubarak, and the new successors of key states such as Lebanon, Syria, Algeria, Yemen and the Gulf States. He has a long history of transcending the limitations of particular partisan views and so has become a trusted ally to participants from all perspectives and has established unparalleled relationships and friendships in both Israel and the Arab countries.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 19, 2020
This is excellent background on the 'middle' east. We approach it like it is one entity. Certainly not. Religious, ethnic and economic differences abound. Not entirely sure that it is feasible to have a coherent policy in this region. My personal opinion is that we have the capability to survive without 'big' oil, but not the leadership in either party. As long as we continue to feed the Saudis $'s, then there'll be discord in the Middle East.
May 1, 2015
The historical analyses were quite informative. Cohen traces the roots of unrest in the middle-east back to World War I. He shows how decades of unfulfilled promises, inability to understand the culture, and attempts to use middle-eastern states as pawns in greater global maneuvering have resulted in a fractured and unstable region. The section on the conflict with Israel was a bit light though.
His suggestions are a bit generic, and obvious. He recommends that people should understand the cultural differences better, and that attempts should be made to use 'soft power' to influence events.
Overall, definitely worth a read, but doesn't offer too much when it comes to ways out of this mess. But then again, it's not that easy so can;t really blame him.
His suggestions are a bit generic, and obvious. He recommends that people should understand the cultural differences better, and that attempts should be made to use 'soft power' to influence events.
Overall, definitely worth a read, but doesn't offer too much when it comes to ways out of this mess. But then again, it's not that easy so can;t really blame him.
March 30, 2011
So how did the middle east get so messed up?
Between Britain, France and the US the once noble ideas of Woodrow Wilson got lost in translation - the best intentions and ideas of self-definition got lost in the reality of super-power self interest.
This book assumes knowledge of historical events from first world war on wards (in Europe and the middle east) but it adds deep insights and perspective.
Between Britain, France and the US the once noble ideas of Woodrow Wilson got lost in translation - the best intentions and ideas of self-definition got lost in the reality of super-power self interest.
This book assumes knowledge of historical events from first world war on wards (in Europe and the middle east) but it adds deep insights and perspective.
December 29, 2015
A good starter book for anyone looking to make sense of the Arab/Israeli struggle
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews