A Study On The Post-Cold War US Persian Gulf Policy

The Persian Gulf, known as the world power-keg, is one of the most fragile part in the world. There have broken out two local wars since the end of the Cold War and the situation is still unstable till now. Besides the complex competition and conflict among the regional countries , the powerful countries' intervene is also an important factor for the turbulant and unsafe, especially that from the United States. The unfolding American involvement in the Gulf affects the regional situation directly and deeply.Adhering to the comprehensive methodology of the historical materialism and dialectical materialism , this dissertation offers an extensive analysis on the continuous American Persian Gulf policy since the end of the Cold War in a realistic way. The dissertation focuses on the continuity and variance of the policy, and attempt to reveal the unchangeable hegemonic nature of the policy. The dissertation consist of the following parts logically.The first part explains the theories of international relation which affect American policy, including Neoliberalism, Soft Power, Civilization Crash.The second part mainly discusses about American interests in the Persian Gulf from a realistic angle, and sums up the different features and the same essence of the policy on the basis of opening out the relation between America and three important countries in the Persian Gulf.The third part gives a deep observation to the concrete concept of the policy by analyzing the background, content, development and effects.The forth part compares the similarities and difference of the policy in different administration, whereupon the essence of the policy is analyzed.The fifth part deals with the effects of the policy, mainly examines the dualism of the effects that American policy bring to Chinese national security.The sixth part intends to forecast the trend of the policy and relation between America and the regional countries.Based on the discussions above, the study arrives at following conclusions: first, the Persian Gulf strategy had become the core of the new American world strategy gradually. Second, the final objectives of the US policy in the Persian Gulf are same; the difference just lies in the way to realize them. Third, American intervene is the critical factor of the unstable situation in the Gulf. Forth, American hegemony encounters more challenges, adjustment of the policy is necessary.