Great Power Rivalry in the Middle East

Catalog description

The middle East with its rich natural resources, strategic location at the intersection of continents, key international sea lanes and choke points, from the Gibraltar Straits to the Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandab and to the Strait of Hormuz has been a constant object of great power rivalry for centuries. The Middle East has historically generated many conflicts internally, but some of these conflicts have become extremely complicated because of great power involvement. Great power competition has altered the prospects of managing conflicts in the region and while competition among major powers has not lead to direct confrontation yet, powerful actors continue to establish, extend and reinforce influence and prestige at each other's expense. This course addresses the current conflicts in the Middle East by situating them in their respective historical contexts.