After two decades of War on Terror, it is particularly important, for both academic and policy purposes, to clearly understand why the US formidable mobilization of means and might has transformed into a such a blatant geostrategic defeat of the US and its allies in the broad Middle East.

Chapter 1. Introduction.- Part I – War, Expanding Chaos & Failed State-Building Across the Middle East.- Chapter 2. Afghanistan since 2001: US Geostrategic Ambitions, a Failed State, and the Return of the Taliban.- Chapter 3. Iraq 2003-2007, Geopolitics of an Imperial Democratization.- Chapter 4. Rebel Governance of Oil: The Case of the Houthis in Yemen.- Chapter 5. Wars on Terror in Arab Oil Lands, Russian Interventions, and Chinese Energy Policies: The Case of Northern Iraq and Syria.- Part II – Indirect Consequences of the War on Terror and Legacy.- Chapter 6. Political Instabilities and large-scale migrations in the MENA region: Libyan, Syrian, and Yemeni cases in regional perspective.- Chapter 7. Overcoming Jihadism in Arabia: Tight Counter-Terrorism Policies in the Gulf Monarchies.- Chapter 8. Trump and Netanyahu’s Failed Palestine Sell-out: ‘A hate plan, not a peace plan’.- Chapter 9. Natural Gas and Regional Energy Dis-integration in the Middle East.- Chapter 10. Conclusions.

                        

                                    

                          

      

                                                               

              

  

“A unique book analyzing with depth and breadth why and how the so-called ‘War on Terror’ has had for more than two decades a dramatic impact on the broad Middle East region, contributing to the effective rise of China and Russia in this part of the world. (…)” 
 — Prof. Cristina D’Alessandro, Centre on Governance at the University of Ottawa, Canada. 

“An important contribution to research on U.S. policy in the Middle East. (…)”
—Dr. Farkhad AliMukhamedov, Sciences Po, France. 

“A new indispensable addition for every library featuring Middle Eastern studies. (…)”
—Dr. Ignacio Rullansky, National University of San Martin, Argentina.

After two decades of War on Terror, it is particularly important, for both academic and policy purposes, to clearly understand why the US formidable mobilization of means and might has transformed into a such a blatant geostrategic defeat of the US and its allies in the broad Middle East. This is all the more paradoxical that the WOT achieved a series of tactical victories – such as the toppling of hostile regimes in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya; the crippling of the national economies of enemy states by sanctions; the successful targeted killing of lead terrorist Usama Bin Laden, ISIS cult leaders Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi and his successor, etc. So, why have these tactical victories not led to what was supposed to become, according to the US government, a ‘Greater Middle East’? With most authors being from or living in the Middle East, this book is unique as it brings perspectives and answers from the region. This is crucially important as we are entering, we argue, the era of a Post-American Middle East.

Chapters 1 and 10 are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com

Prof. Laurent A. Lambert teaches energy policy and geopolitics, as well as climate change diplomacy and hydropoliticsat the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies and previously taught at Sciences Po Paris and Qatar University.

Prof. Moosa Elayah specializes in Conflict Studies, Peacebuilding, and International Development. He has pioneered teaching and research in governance, community-based initiatives, alternative and cooperative services delivery during conflicts in Yemen and beyond.

"This is a unique book analyzing with depth and breadth why and how the so-called ‘War on Terror’ had for more than two decades a dramatic impact on the broad Middle East region, contributing to the effective rise of China and Russia in this part of the world. Beyond the policy failures that it underlines, this edited volume is in the end, and more importantly, about governance. It emphasizes for the benefit of policymakers and academia, specific gaps and failures in the Middle East region, but with global consequences."

- Dr. Cristina D’Alessandro, Centre on Governance at the University of Ottawa, Canada.

"This book makes an important contribution to research on U.S. policy in the Middle East, going beyond the energy security issue by drawing attention to topics such as the question of state formation and migration. The body of work illustrates the inadequate US assessment of the challenges in the region and proves that transforming societies through the use of military means cannot be a viable project in the twenty-first century."

- Dr. Farkhad AliMukhamedov, Sciences Po, France.

"Along these pages the reader will find unique contributions to understand the configuration of armed conflicts, the great crises of representation, and the dynamic relationship between local governments and international powers in the Middle East. This book presents in a clear and comprehensive manner, reflections and analysis that are key to the concern of researchers and students, but also for policymakers. A new indispensable addition for every library featuring Middle Eastern studies."

- Dr. Ignacio Rullansky, National University of San Martin, Argentina

"Lambert and Elayah have put together a fascinating and provocative volume that contributes significantly to debates surrounding the immediate and long-term consequences of the United States’ actions and policies in the Middle East after 9/11. Unlike many other scholarly interventions on this topic, the essays they have contributed to and collected focus on the region itself rather than the interests of global powers who seek to dominate it. Thus, while the underlying strategic interests of global powers are deeply engaged throughout, the volume ultimately provides readers with a poignant view of great power politics from the region."

- Dr. Ammar Shamaileh, Assistant Professor of Politics & International Relations, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Qatar.

Focuses on the legacy of twenty years of war on terror in the Middle East Explains key social, economic, and geopolitical transformations caused by the war on terror Brings unique perspectives from the region to understand the emergence of a Post-American Middle East

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