The United States and Arab Nationalism: The Syrian Case, 1953-1960

(Hardback)

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This work explores three themes. The Eisenhower Administration's overriding Cold War goal in the oil-rich Middle East was minimising Soviet influence. Second, Soviet support for Arab opposition to British colonialism and Israeli Zionism prompted Arab nationalists to embrace neutralism in the Cold War. Third, Eisenhower and Dulles perceived neutral Arab nationalism as tantamount to pro-communism. Syria, the most xenophobic Arab state, was deemed most susceptible to Soviet enticements. This book concludes that US policies in Syria went awry, provoking Syria to collaborate even more closely with the Soviet Union.

Reviews

In her brief but inclusive monograph, Saunders argues-and I think quite accurately-that U.S. policy failed in Syria because it misjudged the Syrian situation and perspective.-MESA Bulletin
"In her brief but inclusive monograph, Saunders argues-and I think quite accurately-that U.S. policy failed in Syria because it misjudged the Syrian situation and perspective."-MESA Bulletin

Author Bio

BONNIE F. SAUNDERS is Adjunct Professor of History at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, Teikyo Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut and at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut.