U.s. Middle East Policy After The Cold War

The Middle East has always been a controversial issue since the end of the Second World War. It has become even more complicated by the involvement of the big powers. In the beginning of 1990's, as the cold war featured by the confrontation between the two camps led by America and Soviet Union came to an end, America started to take a predominant position in the Middle East issue .So it is important to study the American policies towards the Middle East after the cold war. Since both the Middle East situation and the relevant policies of America are changing, American policies towards the Middle East merit discussion. Based on the achievements in the field, this article has commented on the changes of American policies towards the Middle East after the cold war systematically, laying emphasis on the changes of American policies towards the Middle East after the cold war, factors that influence American polices towards the Middle East and theoretical foundation on which American polices towards the Middle East have been built.Since the end of the cold war, the American policy toward the Middle East has been divided into three development stages. The first is the Bush Sr. administration, the second is two terms of Clinton administration, and the last is Bush Jr.' s policy towards the Middle East. The article comments on the main points of the policies of the previous administrations, especially on its attitude, position, and policy towards such significant issues as Palestine-Israel issue, Gulf issue. It analyses the background of the changes in American policies towards the Middle East after the cold war. The author thinks that the policies of the previous American administrations towards the Middle East are characterized by both continuity and changeability .It focuses on the new factors thatinfluence the changes of American policies towards the Middle East after the cold war. The strategic position of the Middle East in geographic sense has been given new meanings. Economic and political factors that show impact on the American policy towards the Middle East have changed after the cold war. Security factors, culture factors and globalization factors have exerted great influence on American policies towards the Middle East after the cold war. The article further analyses the theoretical foundation on which American policies towards the Middle East have been built. In recent years, the so-called theories "pre-emptive theory", "limited sovereignty", "equilibrium of power", "democracy and peace" and "mono-polarization" have had important impacts on the American policies towards the Middle East after the cold war, and have been embodied in these policies. The present international situation indicates that the new change of the American policy toward the Middle East after the cold war will have a great influence upon the future of the whole international situation.