| This dissertation examines U.S. foreign policy in the Persian Gulf since World War II. It posits that contingent imperialism can explain American involvement. Three variants of contingent imperialism are applied to this case study: alliance, proxy, and unilateral. The case study divides into five stages (1941--47, 1948--58, 1959--72, 1973--89, 1990--2001), each corresponding to an era in U.S. policymaking. |
