American Foriegn Policy In The Middle East Midterm

Front 1

Rational Actor Model

Back 1

A calculated response to the actions of another actor that maximizes utility (without bias). Usually used when a quick response is needed.
-Critiques-- Downplays the importance of chance, Relies heavily on intuition and personal judgement

Front 2

Beurocratic Politics Model

Back 2

Policy making is seen as a political process dominated by conflict reloution and NOT problem solving. (ie- dominated by politics)
- Critics-- Takes away importance of smaller issues, Difficult to place blame on bad decisions

Front 3

Small Group Decision Making Model

Back 3

1. Informal- Lacks a formal institution; 2. Specific- (ad hoc) specifically set up for situations that arise, ex.- lobbyists; 3. Permanent- Have formal institutions
- Advantages-- Open forums of group discussions, Can easily maintain secrecy, Swift and decisive actions
- Criticisms-- "Group Think" causes pressure to follow the group ideas

Front 4

Elite Theory

Back 4

Generally cultural, social, economic, etc. leaders are making the decisions and are more likely to represent their own.

Front 5

Pluralism

Back 5

Power resources aren't evenly distributed throughout society. Holds that posessing attributes of power doesn't necessarily equal power.

Front 6

Unilateralism

Back 6

(An American "Style") Tendancy to act alone in foreign policy. Doesn't always work with others.

Front 7

Moral Pragmatism

Back 7

(An American "Style") Influence of religions. Based on American values.

Front 8

Legalism

Back 8

(An American "Style") Desire to adhere to legal order and abhor war.

Front 9

American Exceptionalism

Back 9

(Not the same as "style") We have the right to enforce rules and democracy around the world. Social mobility, prosperity (not social or Marxist). "We are different." A feeling that we don't have to follow the same rules as the rest of the world.

Front 10

Consequences of the American Style

Back 10

A sense of double standards. Ambivalence toward diplomacy, Impatience, "Win war, lose peace."

Front 11

Tools of Foriegn Policy

Back 11

Diplomacy, Arms Transfers, Covert Actions, Economic Tools (including Sanctions, embargos, foreign aid, etc.)

Front 12

Hegemonism

Back 12

Unilateral power with a sense of responsibility to keep the peace. (AKA- "World Police"). Serving the common good for both pragmatic and obligatory reasons. The US has enough power to provide int'l aid.

Front 13

Realism

Back 13

Everyone seeks sovereignty and security in their own interest. Power comes with wealth. No moral obligation in the Int'l system.

Front 14

Isolationism

Back 14

Diplomacy, Int'l trade, etc. continue but no military involvement (avoiding intangling). Intent on securing the US national interst. Foreign commitments dependent on domestic costs.

Front 15

Liberalism

Back 15

stong emphasis for the globe, promoting human rights, free trade, and democracy rather than focusing on security alone. American interest in promoting freedom.

Front 16

Liberal Internationalism

Back 16

A bit more scholarly. The US feels a moral obligation to solving world problems (ie-- AIDS, terrorism, non-proliferation, etc) through cooperation. Focuses more on diplomacy than guns. "We all have to work together to fix these issues."

Front 17

Radical Anti-Imperialism

Back 17

America has power but won't take action like in the past. Plicy makers tend to take on this view. Distribution of resources and power across the globe. Within America, elites are running everything for their benefit and RAI's are against it! American power IS extensive but shouldn't be.

Front 18

Between WWI and the 1950's why was oil important to the US?

Back 18

Used in war machines, Vital to economy, Stopped powers from gaining oil in the ME, Guaranteed oil for future in case we need it

Front 19

The Middle East is a crossroads between Europe, Africa, and Asia for what...?

Back 19

Trade, Communications, Travel, Oil in the Persian Gulf

Front 20

Middle Eastern Ethnicities

Back 20

Kurds, Turks, Persian, Arab, Iranian, Druze (All over), Jews

Front 21

Middle Eastern Religions

Back 21

90% Muslim, Christian, Judaism, Zoarastrian

Front 22

The Mandate System

Back 22

(1920's-'30's) Legitamized through the League of Nations (Brits and French basically broke regions within nations). Tried to prepare people for statehood but didn't really work.

Front 23

Muslim Brotherhood

Back 23

(1928) Islamist Fundamentalists. One Muslim guy basically said that the Muslim world is weak and being attacked by the West. So, the brotherhood was intended to strengthen Muslims through social movements.

Front 24

How were American relations with Great Britain during the Early Cold War years?

Back 24

Britain was declining while America was rising. There was a little bit of contention. The US had to step up so the ME wouldn't be a vacuum for powers like the Soviets.

Front 25

What was the strategic importance of Iran and Turkey during the Early Cold War years?

Back 25

Created a buffer zone between Europe and oil rich countries. Needed as a bulwark against the Soviet Union. Great Britain was giving them financial aid, but couldn't fully afford it.

Front 26

The Truman Doctrine

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(1947) Meant to help Turkey and Greece after Britain couldn't afford it anymore. Against Communist pressures of the Soviet Union. Logic-- Containment, Liberalism because promoting freedom by containing communism from spreading

Front 27

Partition Plan of 1947

Back 27

UN resolution to the prior British Mandate giving land to the Jews. This plan separated Israel into two states, one for Jews, the other for Arabs.

Front 28

Tripartite Declaration

Back 28

(1950) Under Eisenhower with Britain, France, and US, this declaration balanced the Soviet Union power in the ME, but didn't send full-fledged aid. It also replaced an arms embargo with conditions like 1.no one couldn't use the weapons to expand their borders, or change anything from the 1947 Partition Plan, and 2. Could only use weapons defensively

Front 29

Middle East Defense Organization

Back 29

(1952-1953) Anti-Soviet aimed to keep them out of the ME. It was supposed to remedy Britain's weakening reign. Nasser and Naguib wouldn't agree to it. Didn't like Churchill's Empirialist threat. And fealt the Soviets were a threat.

Front 30

Operation Ajax

Back 30

(1953) Shah had US support in Iran. It was covert action to stiffen spine of the Shah and undermine the leader of Iran, Mossadeq. US intervened because they wanted the oil and didn't want Mossadeq to Nationalize oil companies because it wouldn't make it unstable and possible let Soviets have access.

Front 31

Suez Crisis (War) of 1956

Back 31

Americans felt it was a British conflict, so they didn't support military intervention. But they did take an economic and diplomatic approach to halt the fighting. ****This was a turning point for US policy, making them not seem like a colonialist.

Front 32

6 Day War (1967 War)

Back 32

Israel suprise attacks Egypt, taking West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, Sinai Penn. This allows Israel possiblity for peace talks among Arab nations. Arab nationalism decreases because it was a big blow.

Front 33

Resolution 242

Back 33

(1967) Aftermath of 6 Day War. Israel secures borders and withdraws armed forces from territories occupied in the conflict. It also made the Arab nations recognize Israel as a state.

Front 34

Nixon Doctrine

Back 34

Nixon's policy of looking to local proxies to guarantee security for American interests in various regions of the world. In the ME, the doctrine produced a deepened US commitment to Iran and Israel. While the Brits were pulling out East of the Suez, the US decided to build up Iran as a pro-Western bulwark in the area including dramatic weapons aid. The Nixon administration was the first to develop a philosophy of Israel as a strategic ASSET.

Front 35

The 1973 Conflict (October or Holy War)

Back 35

Successful Egyptian attack across the Suez Canal during the first 3 days of Yom Kippur. Israel then drove them out and were in the process of defeating them when both US and Soviets called for return to status quo which caused a stalemate.

Front 36

What did the US under Carter stand to gain from a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt at the end of the October War?

Back 36

An end to the Oil Embargo, Arab peace was strategically important, Carter specifically wanted to bring peace unlike any other Pres.

Front 37

What did Israel stand to gain from a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt at the end of the October War?

Back 37

Military aid from the US, forgiveness of debts, oil incentives, protection from the Soviets, territory for its people

Front 38

What did Egypt under Sadat stand to gain from a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt at the end of the October War?

Back 38

Profitable strategic alliance with US, US would discuss peace talks with Israel and Syria so Egypt isn't the only Arab nation at peace with Israel, leverage to advance Arab interests, and status as a West ally

Front 39

What were the risks for Carter and the US from a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt at the end of the October War?

Back 39

Put US interests at risk if failure, portion of the population didn't want it

Front 40

What were the risks for Israel from a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt at the end of the October War?

Back 40

Backlash from the people, defense needs, giving up the Sinai Penninsula (which had oil and land resources)

Front 41

What were the risks for Egypt/Sadat from a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt at the end of the October War?

Back 41

It would become a pariah (unacceptable by int'l norms), Backlash against the Palestinian cause possibly being diminished

Front 42

Iran Revolution

Back 42

Leading up to 1979- Carter wanted Human rights, supported Shah, while Shah was visiting the US his regime was crumbling. Khomeini soon over. Eventually hostage crisis.

Front 43

What are the multiple causes of the Iranian Revolution?

Back 43

1. Medium to Short Term (pro-West alliance, Mossedeqs coup, West interventionist catalysts) 2. Immediate Catalyst (oppression by Shah and forces, upsetting the Clergy for lack of religious adherence, Shah was seen as US puppet) 3. Long Term Structural Factors (Military stopped supporting the Shah, US-supplied state was now in the hands of religious, organized Shi'a and Sunni opposition)

Front 44

The Crusades

Back 44

Represent Western Empirialism, encroachment on the Middle East (symbolic)

Front 45

The Ottomans

Back 45

Rise (1280-1566)-- Rulers were Turkish, at some point it ruled most of the ME and Muslim world (multi-national/religious empire), created when Ossman conquered Anatolis; Decline (1566-1800's)-- Europe starts to rise; Weakness (1800's-1920)-- Europe surpasses militarily, Ottoman Empire ends

Front 46

Hyusain-McMahon Correspondence

Back 46

(1915) British guy in Egypt corresponds with Saudi man in order to revolt against the Ottomans; never actually happens; They wanted an independent Arab state; Hyusain DID initiate a revolt.

Front 47

Sykes/Picot Agreement

Back 47

(1916) Between British, Russians and French during the war on how to divide up the Ottoman Empire.

Front 48

Balfour Declaration

Back 48

(1917) 1. British gov't would help set up a national home for Jews in Palestine, 2. It wouldn't undermine the rights or status of the Jews choosing not to live there, 3. It wouldn't harm the civil or religious rights of Palestinians existing in non-Jewish communities. **It didn't take into consideration if the Palestinians wanted Jews in their land and it never mentioned Palestinian political rights.