The perception of an American retreat from the Middle East has become widespread across the region over the last two decades, even as successive administrations claim deep engagement and pursue grand diplomatic ambitions. Many regional actors see the world moving in a multipolar direction and are not willing to follow Washington’s lead on international issues. The normative disconnect between U.S. support for Israel in Gaza and the views of much of the Arab public has grown wider than ever.
This panel discussion, part of a Mershon Center and Project on Middle East Political Science workshop that will lead to an edited volume, conjoins regional expertise and theoretical insight to address the state of the Middle Eastern regional order. Is American primacy in retreat? How would it matter if it were?
Originally filmed on September 13, 2024 at the Ohio State University
Speakers include:
Marc Lynch - George Washington University, Visiting Scholars Mershon Center for International Security Studies
Gregory Gause - Texas A&M
Elham Fakhro - Belfer Center, Harvard University
Dana El Kurd - University of Richmond
Shibley Telhami - University of Maryland