The Arab-Israeli peace process initiated in the wake of the Gulf War has once again brought the question of Palestinian autonomy to the forefront of Middle East politics. Palestinian autonomy has been debated since the Camp David Accords in 1978, and a fascinating and largely unexamined record of ideas, proposals, and understandings has accumulated

Describing the changes of heart and mind that reordered the Middle East in the wake of the First World War, AlbertHourani, one of the great scholars of the modern Middle East,has written: "Wars are catalysts, bringing to consciousness feelings hitherto inarticulate and creating expectations of change." The Gulf War of early 1991 bears the signs of having been such a catalyst. Having proved its assertiveness and strength, and having led a wide-ranging coalition into battle,the United States has, since the war's end, embarked on an energetic diplomatic effort aimed at settling the long-standing conflict between the majority of the Arab states and Israel. The peace conference that Secretary of State James A. Baker III has organized will grapple with a number of issues. One of the most contentious and significant will be the future of thePalestinians of Gaza and the West Bank.

The international response to the attacks of 9/11 promised a new sense of unity between the United States and its European allies, but subsequent disagreements over Iraq have made the Western alliance seem tentative at best. ""Is There Still a West?"" looks beyond recent events to put disagreements within NATO into historical perspective, exploring how cultural, demographic, economic, and military factors since the 1940s have affected future prospects for security cooperation. As questions underlying the current rift persist, distinguished scholars - Stephen Schuker, Michael Radu, Jeremy Black, and others - consider whether that gathering of nations long known as ""the West"" remains a valid construct. Claiming that differences over Iraq are no greater than past conflicts over Suez, China, or other issues, they adopt a ""realist"" stance in international relations to offer an alternative to neoconservative and liberal viewpoints. They show what the major issues - and nonissues - really are, and which among them are the true time bombs. These essays consider a range of relevant topics, from the impact of globalization to emerging differences in the political cultures of North Americans and Europeans to an analysis of head-scarf issues among Muslim immigrants. They particularly address the consequences of demographic shifts as Western countries try to deal with growing Muslim communities that present a security and cultural challenge. In proposing possible counterterrorism strategies to define a shared Western security policy, this book considers whether a distinctive Western way of war in fact exists and what it might mean for the alliance. These insightful essays look beyond transatlantic complaints to probe underlying difficulties, explore sources of conflict, assess prospects for economic divergence, and advocate a workable security policy. Together, they ask readers to consider whether ""the West"" is still a major force in international affairs or whether we face a new world of competing states and shifting alliances. By addressing these challenges, ""Is There Still a West?"" points toward the development of effective policies to ensure the ongoing unity of the West.

The international response to the attacks of 9/11 promised a new sense of unity between the United States and its European allies, but subsequent disagreements over Iraq have made the Western alliance seem tentative at best. ""Is There Still a West?"" looks beyond recent events to put disagreements within NATO into historical perspective, exploring how cultural, demographic, economic, and military factors since the 1940s have affected future prospects for security cooperation. As questions underlying the current rift persist, distinguished scholars - Stephen Schuker, Michael Radu, Jeremy Black, and others - consider whether that gathering of nations long known as ""the West"" remains a valid construct. Claiming that differences over Iraq are no greater than past conflicts over Suez, China, or other issues, they adopt a ""realist"" stance in international relations to offer an alternative to neoconservative and liberal viewpoints. They show what the major issues - and nonissues - really are, and which among them are the true time bombs. These essays consider a range of relevant topics, from the impact of globalization to emerging differences in the political cultures of North Americans and Europeans to an analysis of head-scarf issues among Muslim immigrants. They particularly address the consequences of demographic shifts as Western countries try to deal with growing Muslim communities that present a security and cultural challenge. In proposing possible counterterrorism strategies to define a shared Western security policy, this book considers whether a distinctive Western way of war in fact exists and what it might mean for the alliance. These insightful essays look beyond transatlantic complaints to probe underlying difficulties, explore sources of conflict, assess prospects for economic divergence, and advocate a workable security policy. Together, they ask readers to consider whether ""the West"" is still a major force in international affairs or whether we face a new world of competing states and shifting alliances. By addressing these challenges, ""Is There Still a West?"" points toward the development of effective policies to ensure the ongoing unity of the West.