Analysts of American policy in 2025 have the unusual advantage of being able to assess the new president’s likely policies against the backdrop of what he did in his first term, four years earlier. The prognosis is not positive.
Browse our Great Decisions topic resources and share your own with [email protected].
528267_ISRAEL-2023-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT.pdf
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – State DepartmentIsrael-Background-and-US-Relations.pdf
Israel: Background and U.S. RelationsUSaidtoPalestine_RS22967.64.pdf
U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians -CRSNonpartisan legal and policy analysis run by NYU Law School—particularly good for things like war powers, sanctions, and UN actions.
Just Security – Middle East & International LawUK-based think tank with a global reputation for neutrality and independence.
Chatham HouseA U.S. government-affiliated think tank that leans scholarly but avoids partisan positions. Their “Middle East Briefs” are short, readable, and timely.
Wilson Center – Middle East ProgramU.S.-based think tank with a variety of viewpoints. Often used by educators and journalists.
Middle East Institute (MEI) – Policy & Briefing LibraryProvides analysis and commentary on U.S. policy in the Middle East, including the quarterly journal Middle East Policy and Capitol Hill Conference Series.
Middle East Policy CouncilProvides contemporary analysis of the Middle East and Africa, with publications and resources for public understanding.
Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African StudiesOffers thoughtful nonpartisan analysis of political, security, and socioeconomic issues in the region.
Carnegie Middle East CenterA historical overview that traces the major developments in the Middle East over several centuries, helping viewers understand the roots of contemporary issues.
History of the Middle East from the 17th to the 20th CenturyPresented by the London School of Economics, this video delves into the reasons behind ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the role of U.S. intervention, offering an academic perspective.
Why is the Middle East at War? US Intervention ExplainedThis video offers a high-level overview of the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, breaking down the relationships and tensions between different countries in an accessible manner.
Middle East Geopolitics Explained SimplyA concise overview by the Council on Foreign Relations, featuring expert Steven A. Cook discussing the historical context and current challenges of U.S. involvement in the Middle East.
U.S. Policy in the Middle East, With Steven A. CookDelivered in the region directly after the October 7 Hamas attack. Strongly reaffirms U.S. support for Israel while acknowledging civilian suffering.
President Biden delivers remarks in IsraelAnderson provides a sweeping account of American fortunes and misfortunes in a turbulent region. Read more
Byman offers little hope for change coming from within the Middle East, and thus he argues for the U.S. to remain active militarily to defend and deter. Read more
Cook argues that U.S. policy in the Middle East enjoyed relative success from World War II until the 1990s, when it turned to broad social engineering projects, such as democratization. He argues for a return to traditional interests, such as energy security, Israel, counterterrorism, and counterproliferation, as well as climate and great power competition. Read more
Kurtzer argues that Trump tore down almost all the pillars of long-standing U.S. policy in the Middle East. Many of the policies and actions undertaken during Trump's first term remain in place. Read more
A former senior Trump advisor, O'Brien's prescription for the region is to elect Trump so that he can reprise what he did previously while in office. Read more
A former senior Obama advisor, Rhodes argues that the U.S. must cope with a challenging Middle East, without aspiring to change things significantly. Read more
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/555069/grand-delusion-by-steven-simon/ Read more
Share your thoughts on this topic with [email protected]
Leave your thoughts on this topic by leaving a comment...