****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
"Beyond America's Grasp: A Century of Failed Diplomacy in the Middle East" is a compelling interpretation of America's engagement with the Middle East, and our halting abilities as Americans to grasp the peoples who live there. The title captures the ambiguities of how we engage, and where our diplomacy fails us.To me, this book raises three important questions:* When will we overcome the naïveté of Wilsonian internationalism?* Are our national interests limited to the "realpolitik" of cold war rivalries, oil, and an obsession with short terms fixes to deep-seated problems?* Can we fathom the complex and nuanced realities of the Middle East and the Arab world?Suffice it to say that the legacy of the Ottoman Empire remains. The politics forged in this era are the contemporary lions wrapped in the lamb-skins of national identities.A social psychologist by training, Stephen P. Cohen has interacted with many of the principal leaders in the region over the past thirty-five years, and has often used his unique skills to open channels of communications among them. He writes a richly textured account of what is happening in the Middle East, based on his insights about the peoples who are living there and how they understand their historical narratives.Cohen challenges us to think about where we should be going - not only in terms of statecraft and economic interests but also in terms of group dynamics. 'From the War of Ideas to the Peace of Ideas,' the title of the last chapter, provides a prescription for exercising soft power in the digital age. It's essential to focus on the cultural consciousness of groups in the region, and learn how to foster meaningful connections among them.All in all, I believe that anybody who wants to be seriously informed about our current struggles across the Middle East should read this book and contemplate its lessons.
