Anglo-American Defense Projects in the Postwar Middle East: Cold War or Imperialism?

This book examines Anglo-American defense policies in the Middle East between 1945 and 1955 and the attempts of these two Western powers to contain the Soviet expansion towards the region. It does not attempt to offer a comprehensive history of British and American policies in the Middle East. Instead, it examines those policies with a particular focus on the problems of Middle East defense. It also seeks to determine the aims behind the proposals of Middle East Command, Middle East Defense Organization Northern, Tier Defence Concept, and Baghdad Pact, their failings, and the struggle that was undertaken against them by hostile countries, such as Egypt, India, and the Soviet Union. It examines the events surrounding their formation, development, and collapse. Furthermore, it examines the policies of the regional countries, namely Turkey, Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq. Thus, it poses the questions of how the participating countries perceived the question of Middle East defense, what their basic aims were, and what problems they faced while trying to achieve these aims and implementing their chosen solutions.

About the Author

Behçet Kemal Yesilbursa is professor in the Department of History at Bursa Uludag University.