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America must revolutionize its understanding of the Middle East
By Avi Melamed
For
the past generation, America’s Middle East policy has primarily been a
chronology of failures. The proactive promotion of democratization in
Iraq, Egypt, and the Palestinian arena resulted in catastrophes.
Leading from behind appears to have failed too, as chaos in the Middle
East deepens, and U.S. outreach to Iran raises tensions and creates
instability in the region. Moreover, U.S. intelligence didn’t foresee
significant developments in the Middle East such as the Arab Spring, the
downfall of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, or the severe
deterioration in Yemen. These failures and many others certainly do not
stem from a lack of resources, capacity, or gifted individuals. They
stem from a more fundamental flaw.
The foreign policies of Western governments are largely shaped by five major circles: academics; corporations; media; non-governmental or non-profit organizations; and politicians. The concepts, conversations, information, knowledge, narratives and thinking exchanged within and between these circles, play a significant role in the shaping of policy.
An examination of the process through which information and knowledge about the Middle East is conveyed and assimilated within these circles in the United States reveals two major weaknesses. One has to do with the mediating of information and the other has to do with the processing of information.
The foreign policies of Western governments are largely shaped by five major circles: academics; corporations; media; non-governmental or non-profit organizations; and politicians. The concepts, conversations, information, knowledge, narratives and thinking exchanged within and between these circles, play a significant role in the shaping of policy.
An examination of the process through which information and knowledge about the Middle East is conveyed and assimilated within these circles in the United States reveals two major weaknesses. One has to do with the mediating of information and the other has to do with the processing of information.
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