Recent Publications

Land Power and Dual Containment: Rethinking America’s Policy in the Gulf
November 1, 1999 — Author: Dr Stephen C Pelletiere In an attempt to regain some control of the strategic commodity, Washington developed special relationships with the two foremost oil procedures, Iran (under the Shah) and Saudi Arabia. In 1979 the Shah was overthrown and, with the rise of the Ayatollah Khomeini, America became—in the eyes of Iranians—the Great... MORE

Searching for Stable Peace in the Persian Gulf
February 1, 1998 — Authors: Dr Kenneth Katzman, Dr Stephen C Pelletiere Congressional Research Staffer Kenneth Katzman reviews the history of dual containment, and shows how adherence to the policy has eroded. He suggests it is time for Washington to change course in the Gulf, and lays out a course of action the United States should follow to maintain its leadership... MORE

Assessing the Costs of Failure
June 26, 1997 — Authors: Dr Stephen C Pelletiere, Prof Shibley Telhami, Mr Lawrence R Velte As of mid-1997, the fate of the Arab-Israeli peace process is dangerously uncertain. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to begin work on a new Jewish settlement in Jerusalem has so enraged Palestinians that they have effectively walked out of the negotiations... MORE

The Peace process, Phase One: Past Accomplishments, Future Concerns
January 3, 1997 — Author: Dr Stephen C Pelletiere As a result of a conference on the peace process in the Middle East, co-hosted by the Strategic Studies Institute and North Georgia College in March 1996, the authors discussed the developing crisis in that area. They have analyzed three crucial areas of relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors--Jordan, Syria,... MORE

Managing Strains in the Coalition: What to Do About Saddam?
November 1, 1996 — Author: Dr Stephen C Pelletiere For 5 years U.S. policy has managed to steer a coalition of states which share broad interests in regional stability and free trade. Yet below these common interests, the United States has walked a tightrope stretched between competing objectives vis-à-vis Iraq, e.g., undermining Saddam while preserving Iraq as a... MORE

Yemen and Stability in the Persian Gulf: Confronting the Threat from Within
May 1, 1996 — Author: Dr Stephen C Pelletiere Yemen is one of the oldest societies in the Middle East. It sits athwart one of the world's most strategic waterways, and hence, throughout the Cold War, the United States and Soviet Union contended for influence over it. With the end of the Cold War, Yemen's fortunes sank. Soviet support vanished, and the United... MORE

A Theory of Fundamentalism: An Inquiry into the Origin and Development of the Movement
September 28, 1995 — Author: Dr Stephen C Pelletiere Islamic fundamentalism is growing at such a rapid rate that many believe it threatens to take over the Middle East. To prevent this, enormous resources have been summoned, not only from within the region, but in the West as well. Yet, for all the efforts to contain, if not turn back the fundamentalists, the movement... MORE

Terrorism: National Security Policy and the Home Front
May 1, 1995 — Author: Dr Stephen C Pelletiere The recent bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma has highlighted the complexity of the phenomenon of political extremism. Until this occurred, inside the United States foreign terrorists were the focus of attention, particularly the so-called Islamic fundamentalists. Undue emphasis on the "foreign connection"... MORE

Assad and the Peace Process: The Pivotal Role of Lebanon
February 1, 1995 — Author: Dr Stephen C Pelletiere The world is waiting for peace in the Middle East. At present the possibility of a settlement is delayed by differences between Israel and Syria. The two are far apart on how to solve one of the thornier problems of the negotiations--the eventual status of the Golan Heights. That Syria's President Assad and Israel's... MORE

Hamas and Hizbollah: The Radical Challenge to Israel in the Occupied Territories
November 1, 1994 — Author: Dr Stephen C Pelletiere This study argues that Hamas and Hizbollah, the two main religious groups fighting Israel, probably are more threatening to U.S. interests than is generally believed. It discusses the various openings that the groups were able to exploit to advance themselves, and particularly how they profited from errors on the... MORE

Shari’a Law, Cult Violence and System Change in Egypt: The Dilemma Facing President Mubarak
April 1, 1994 — Author: Dr Stephen C Pelletiere Egypt is one of the more economically deprived countries in the world. Societal stress is a major challenge. Few believe that Egypt will escape the poverty that has for so long oppressed it. For all its challenges, Egypt is of strategic importance to the United States, because of its leadership position in the Arab... MORE

Turkey’s Strategic Position at the Crossroads of World Affairs
December 1, 1993 — Authors: Dr Stephen J Blank, Dr William T Johnsen, Dr Stephen C Pelletiere This report analyzes the implications of Turkey's policies and the reactions of Turkey's neighbors in three discrete chapters. The authors focus their conclusions and options for U.S. policymakers on the effect of Turkish policies in Europe, the Middle East, and the former... MORE