U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East: Part 1

Why has the U.S. spent decades intervening in the Middle East — and what do those policies really serve?

In this lecture, Dr. Roy Casagranda breaks down the core motivations behind U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, tracing a throughline from Cold War strategy to post-9/11 militarism. Roy challenges mainstream narratives by exposing how U.S. actions have prioritized power projection and resource control over democracy or peace.

He unpacks key events and patterns, including American support for authoritarian regimes, the consequences of arming regional actors, and the long shadow of oil politics. This is not just a history lesson — it’s a provocative exploration of the costs, contradictions, and consequences of American policy across the Arab and Muslim world.

Whether you’re studying international relations, political science, or Middle East history, this lecture offers an unflinching look at what drives American power abroad.

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00:00:00 Introduction: A Framework for Power
00:03:02 Why the U.S. Cares About the Middle East
00:08:45 Defining the "Middle East"
00:14:28 Empire, Religion, and Strategic Geography
00:21:03 Cold War Thinking and Containment
00:27:18 Oil and the Real U.S. Interests
00:33:59 The Soviet Threat Narrative
00:38:47 Support for Authoritarian Regimes
00:43:32 Iran and the 1953 Coup
00:49:18 The Impact of Israel on U.S. Policy
00:55:40 Arms Sales, Proxy Wars, and Blowback
01:02:05 The U.S.–Saudi Relationship
01:08:12 Afghanistan and the Creation of al-Qaeda
01:15:26 Iraq and the Myth of Democracy Promotion
01:22:51 The Pattern of American Intervention
01:30:00 How U.S. Policy Fuels Extremism
01:37:43 Media Narratives and Public Perception
01:44:56 Imperial Strategy vs. Human Rights
01:51:38 Final Analysis: The Cost of Control
01:57:40 Audience Q&A and Closing Reflections

#USForeignPolicy #MiddleEastHistory #AmericanEmpire

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