Nearest East: American Millenialism and Mission to the Middle East (Politics, History & Social Change)

Long before oil interests shaped American interaction with the Middle East, the U.S. had a strong influence on the late Ottoman and post-Ottoman region. Covering the period from approximately 1800 to the 1970s, Hans-Lukas KieserOCOs compelling "Nearest East" tells the story of this intimate, identity-building relationship between the U.S. and the Near East. a Kieser chronicles how American missionaries worked to implement their belief in Biblical millennialism, enlightened modernity, and a modern Zion-Israel. Millennialism was part of an American identity that constituted itself religiously in the interaction with and the representation of the OC cradle of Zion.OCO As such, going Near East wasOCoat least to American evangelical ProtestantsOCoin some ways more important than colonizing the American West. However, many Ottoman Muslims felt threatened by the American missionaries perceiving their successful institutions as an estranging challenge from the outside. a Measuring the long twisted road from the missionary Zion-builders of the early 19th century to the privileged US-Israeli partnership in the late 20th century, " Nearest East" looks carefully on both sides of the relationship. Kieser uses a wide range of Ottoman, Turkish, French, German and other sources, unfamiliar to most Anglophone readers, to tell this story that will appeal to historians of all stripes. Long Before Oil Interests Shaped American Interaction With The Middle East, The United States Had A Strong Influence On The Late Ottoman And Post-ottoman Region. Covering The Period From Approximately 1800 To The 1970s, Hans-lukas Kieser's Compelling Nearest East Tells The Story Of This Intimate, Identity-building Relationship Between The United States And The Near East. Kieser Chronicles How American Missionaries Worked To Implement Their Belief In Biblical Millennialism, Enlightened Modernity, And A Modern Zion-israel. Millennialism Was Part Of An American Identity That Constituted Itself Religiously In The Interaction With And The Representation Of The Cradle Of Zion. As Such, Going Near East Was - At Least To American Evangelical Protestantismin Some Ways More Important Than Colonizing The American West. Many Ottoman Muslims, However, Felt Threatened By The American Missionaries, Perceiving Their Successful Institutions As An Estranging Challenge From The Outside. Measuring The Long, Twisted Road From The Missionary Zion Builders Of The Early Nineteenth Century To The Privileged U.s.-israeli Partnership In The Late Twentieth Century, Nearest East Looks Carefully At Both Sides Of The Relationship. Kieser Uses A Wide Range Of Ottoman, Turkish, French, German, And Other Sources, Unfamiliar To Most Anglophone Readers, To Tell This Story That Will Appeal To Historians Of All Stripes.--jacket. The United States And The Near East, Circa 1800 -- A Quest For Zion And Peace On Earth : Mission To The Bible Lands -- Dream And Trauma : Missionary America And Young Turkey, 1908-1923 -- Oil, Palestine-israel, And Empire Of The Good -- American Steps And Shortcuts To Zion After 1967. Hans-lukas Kieser. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 1. The United States and the Near East, circa 1800......Page 26 2. A Quest for “Zion” and Peace on Earth: Mission to the Bible Lands......Page 45 3. Dream and Trauma: Missionary America and Young Turkey, 1908–1923......Page 74 4. Oil, Palestine-Israel, and Empire of the Good......Page 109 5. American Steps and Shortcuts to “Zion” after 1967......Page 148 Conclusion......Page 164 Notes......Page 176 Selected Bibliography......Page 208 Index......Page 212 Discusses how missionaries and evangelical politics influenced American government policy in the Middle East