American Diplomacy Toward Lebanon: Lessons in Foreign Policy and the Middle East

Lebanon's significance to the Middle East and the global arena is greater than its small size suggests - bordering Israel and Syria, it holds a geo-strategic role as the playing field for their competition as well as for their allies, America and Iran. This book examines how American diplomacy has responded to the intersection of local, regional, and international factors in Lebanon.

David Hale examines several key episodes in US diplomatic history with Lebanon, starting with the country's independence in 1943, up until the present moment. Crucial events such as the Lebanese Civil War, the Cedar Revolution, and more recently the spillover from the Syrian Civil War, are examined within the context of the respective US government administrations of the time and their foreign policy strategies. Hale asks whether policy-makers had realistic and compelling goals, the right strategy, sufficient means, and capable diplomats in its diplomatic approaches towards Lebanon through the years.

Crucially, this study focuses on how, during these critical periods, American diplomacy toward Lebanon had consequences beyond the country itself, and on the narrative lines and lessons for the broader conduct of American foreign policy.

Details

Publisher: I.B. Tauris (February 8, 2024)
ISBN: ‎ 9780755652228

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This book is available for purchase from Bloomsbury Publishing in paperback, hardback, and ebook formats.

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Praise for American Diplomacy Toward Lebanon

"There is no dearth of books, policy briefs, and reports about Lebanon and its multiple crises. Yet, none provides anywhere near the scope and depth of analysis about the formulation and implementation of U.S. Lebanon policy as David Hale's excellent book. Mr. Hale has been involved with U.S. policymaking on Lebanon for many years and provides an insider's perspective of “America's oscillations in policies and levels of activity” concerning Lebanon. This is a must-read book for scholars of Lebanon and the Levant, of U.S. policy in the Levant, and for practitioners of crisis management and conflict resolution. Most of all, Lebanese must read this book to understand the evolution of U.S. policy vis-à-vis their country, what the U.S. did or did not do at critical episodes in their country's political trajectory, and the main drivers of those decisions and actions."
- Randa Slim, Senior Fellow and Director of MEI's Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program

"Anyone with an interest in Lebanon will find this an absorbing book written by a diplomat with a long history and deep knowledge of the country and the region. Through six episodes, spanning over sixty years, David Hale explores the twists and turns of Lebanon's fortunes and the problems of inconsistent diplomatic efforts that culminate in the challenges of today. An important contribution to our understanding and a valuable tool for our diplomacy."
- Catherine Ashton, Former High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, UK

"Lebanon has been the school of hard knocks for successive generations of American diplomats. David Hale's pithy, unsparing review of American policy is intensely readable and instructive, especially with the backdrop of yet another Middle East crisis. Written with personal experience, empathy and objectivity, Hale's work is seminal and authoritative."
- C. David Welch, Ambassador and Former U.S. Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs

Contents

• Foreword

• Introduction: America and Lebanon

• Chapter 1: American Diplomacy and Lebanese Independence, 1943-45

• Chapter 2: Ike Intervenes, 1958

• Chapter 3: The Brown Mission and Red Lines, 1976

• Chapter 4: Reagan Meant Well, 1982-84

• Chapter 5: Syria First, 1993-2000

• Chapter 6: The Freedom Agenda, 2004-08

• Chapter 7: Since 2008: Lebanon in Paralysis

• Bibliography

• Index

About the Author

David Hale previously served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (United States Government), with global responsibilities. He was American Ambassador to Pakistan, Lebanon, and Jordan and Special Envoy for Middle East Peace and holds the lifetime rank of Career Ambassador. Now a global fellow at the Wilson Center, he focusses on the Middle East and South Asia.