Crescent of Crisis : U.S.-European Strategy for the Greater Middle East

The greater Middle East is beset by a crescent of crisis--a region of urgent danger stretching from Pakistan to Afghanistan, through Iran and Iraq, all the way to the Syria/Lebanon question and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The specific problems range from terrorism and nuclear proliferation to the rise of fundamentalism and a lack of democracy. These crises pose perhaps the most pressing security challenges to Europe and the United States today. Unfortunately, the U.S. and its allies across the Atlantic generally have approached them in separate ways, often resulting in tense transatlantic relations as well as missed opportunities to make the world safer. Clearly time has come for greater coordination of strategy and action. Crescent of Crisis brings together several leading American and European experts to develop a common approach to the pressing worries of the region. The contributors include some of the foremost analysts of the region from both sides of the Atlantic. They provide succinct synopses of the crises, compare U.S. and European perspectives, and suggest ways to increase cooperation. The editors synthesize this into a road map for U.S.-European cooperation in meeting the present and future challenges of this volatile part of the world. Contributors: Stephen Cohen (Brookings Institution), James Dobbins (RAND), Toby Dodge (University of London), Eva Goes (consultant), Martin Indyk (Saban Center at Brookings), Reinoud Leenders (University of Amsterdam), Flynt Leverett (Saban Center at Brookings), Ken Pollack (Saban Center at Brookings), Jean-Luc Racine (Centre for the Study of India and South Asia, CNRS/EHESS), Barnett Rubin (New York University), Yezid Sayigh (King's College London), Michael Schmunk (Harvard University), Bruno Tertraris (Fondation pour la Recherche Strategique). A Brookings Institution Press and EU Institute for Security Studies publicationThe greater Middle East region is beset by a crescent of crises, stretching from Pakistan through Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Together, these five crises pose the most pressing security challenges faced by the United States and its European allies—ranging from terrorism and weapons proliferation to the rise of fundamentalism and the lack of democracy. Until now, Europe and the United States have approached these issues (indeed, the Middle East as a whole) in differing ways, with little effective coordination of policy. In fact, how best to deal with the greater Middle East has emerged as one of the most contentious issues in U.S.-European relations. The need for a common approach to the region is more evident than ever.This book brings together some of Europe and America's leading scholars and practitioners in an effort to develop a common approach to resolving the five major crises in the region. European and American authors provide succinct and fact-filled overviews of the different crises, describe U.S. and European perspectives on the way forward, and suggest ways in which the United States and Europe can better cooperate. In the conclusion, the editors synthesize the different suggestions into a roadmap for U.S.-European cooperation for addressing the challenges of the Greater Middle East in the years ahead.Contributors include Stephen Cohen (Brookings Institution), James Dobbins (RAND), Toby Dodge (University of London), Martin Indyk (Saban Center at Brookings), Kenneth Pollack (Saban Center at Brookings), Jean-Luc Racine (Center for the Study of India and South Asia), Barnett Rubin (New York University), Yezid Sayigh (University of Cambridge), and Bruno Tertrais (Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique). " The greater Middle East region is beset by a crescent of crises, stretching from Pakistan through Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Together, these five crises pose the most pressing security challenges faced by the United States and its European alliesranging from terrorism and weapons proliferation to the rise of fundamentalism and the lack of democracy. Until now, Europe and the United States have approached these issues (indeed, the Middle East as a whole) in differing ways, with little effective coordination of policy. In fact, how best to deal with the greater Middle East has emerged as one of the most contentious issues in U.S.-European relations. The need for a common approach to the region is more evident than ever. This book brings together some of Europe and America's leading scholars and practitioners in an effort to develop a common approach to resolving the five major crises in the region. European and American authors provide succinct and fact-filled overviews of the different crises, describe U.S. and European perspectives on the way forward, and suggest ways in which the United States and Europe can better cooperate. In the conclusion, the editors synthesize the different suggestions into a roadmap for U.S.-European cooperation for addressing the challenges of the Greater Middle East in the years ahead. Contributors include Stephen Cohen (Brookings Institution), James Dobbins (RAND), Toby Dodge (University of London), Martin Indyk (Saban Center at Brookings), Kenneth Pollack (Saban Center at Brookings), Jean-Luc Racine (Center for the Study of India and South Asia), Barnett Rubin (New York University), Yezid Sayigh (University of Cambridge), and Bruno Tertrais (Fondation pour la Recherche Stratgique). " Finding A Shared Approach To The Crescent Of Crisis / Ivo H. Daalder, Nicole Gnesotto, And Philip H. Gordon -- A Multilateral Approach To Iran / Kenneth M. Pollack -- The Iranian Nuclear Crisis / Bruno Tertrais -- Israel-palestine : U.s. Strategy For Resolving The Israel-palestinian Conflict / Martin Indyk -- Putting The Israel-palestinian Peace Process Back On Track / Yezid Sayigh -- Syria And Lebanon : Different Roads To Damascus / Flynt Leverett -- Promoting Democracy And Human Rights In Lebanon And Syria / Eva Goes And Reinoud Leenders -- Iraq: From Democratization To Governance / James Dobbins -- Reconstituting The Iraqi State: A European Perspective / Toby Dodge -- Afghanistan : Proposals For Improved Stability In Afghanistan / Barnett Rubin -- Afghanistan : Elements Of An Atlantic Nation-building Strategy / Michael Schmunk -- Pakistan And The Crescent Of Crisis / -- Stephen P. Cohen -- The Case Of Pakistan : A Strategy For Europe / Jean-luc Racine -- A Common U.s.-european Strategy On The Crescent Of Crisis / Ivo H. Daalder, Nicole Gnesotto, And Philip H. Gordon. Editors, Ivo Daalder, Nicole Gnesotto, And Philip Gordon. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Crescent of Crisis brings together several leading American and European experts to develop a common approach to the pressing worries in the region. The contributors include some of the foremost analysts of the region from both sides of the Atlantic. They provide succinct synopses of the crises, compare U.S. and European perspectives, and suggest ways to increase cooperation. The editors synthesize this into a road map for U.S.-European cooperation in meeting the present and future challenges of this volatile part of the world."--Jacket