Cambridge University Press The International Relations of the Persian Gulf

Gregory Gause's masterful book is the first to offer a comprehensive account of the international politics in the Persian Gulf across nearly four decades. The story begins in 1971 when Great Britain ended its protectorate relations with the smaller states of the lower Gulf. It traces developments in the region from the oil 'revolution' of 1973–4 through the Iranian revolution, the Iran-Iraq war and the Gulf war of 1990–1 to the toppling of Saddam Hussein in the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, bringing the story of Gulf regional politics up to 2008. The book highlights transnational identity issues, regime security and the politics of the world oil market, and charts the changing mix of interests and ambitions driving American policy. The author brings his experience as a scholar and commentator on the Gulf to this riveting account of one of the most politically volatile regions on earth. Review 'The most authoritative account to date of the tumultuous events that marked the transition from British to American predominance in the Persian Gulf. Gause's meticulous reconstruction of regional political interactions illuminates and informs, while gently puncturing a handful of myths that have sprouted during the past half century to explain the many twists and turns of revolution, war and struggles for power in one of the most turbulent regions in the world.' Gary Sick, Senior Research Scholar and Director of the Gulf/2000 research project on the Persian Gulf at Columbia University'Finally a book on the recent crises of the Middle East that is neither sensationalist nor ideologically driven. Gause instead tries to inform and explain, placing events such as the Iranian revolution and Iraq's various wars in a regional security context. Foreign policy of the Gulf states is more about managing domestic vulnerabilities than rational pursuit of national interests. The reader gets just enough theory to challenge some conventional assumptions, and lots of strong narrative to make sense of the events being discussed. Teachers, students and general readers will welcome this excellent book.' William B. Quandt, University of Virginia'In a whole series of stellar recent book[s] on the international relations of the Persian Gulf, Gregory Gause's ranks among the best. Gause has written a well-researched, thorough and balanced account of the evolution of the regional security system in the Persian Gulf since the early 1970s. … undoubtedly, an essential read for anyone interested in the politics of a region that has long been a source of competition and tension among regional and global actors and, ironically, object of scholarly neglect. … This is clearly a work of solid scholarship by someone with a highly perceptive knowledge of the region. … I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in an in-depth understanding of the international relations of the Persian Gulf.' International Affairs Book Description This book offers a comprehensive, narrative account of the international politics in the Persian Gulf across nearly four decades. About the Author F. Gregory Gause, III is Professor of Political Science at the University of Vermont. His previous publications include Oil Monarchies: Domestic and Security Challenges in the Arab Gulf States (1994) and Saudi-Yemeni Relations: Domestic Structures and Foreign Influence (1990).