What are the United States’ interests in the Middle East? Who and what determine those interests? And how are those interests pursued? This course addresses these questions in two parts. First, we will consider the domestic American debate on foreign policy in the Middle East, exploring key Middle Eastern trends; America’s regional interests; and the political actors and factors that shape U.S. policy in the Middle East. We will then turn to America’s actions and relationships in the region, assessing American policy dilemmas across a wide variety of countries and events. Students should leave this class with a strong understanding of the challenges that the U.S. faces in the Middle East, as well as an informed viewpoint regarding how well America is meeting those challenges.