United States Relations with China and Iran - (New Approaches to International History) by Osamah F Khalil & Thomas Zeiler (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Bringing together experts from history, international relations and the social sciences, United States Relations with China and Iran examines the past, present and future of U.S. foreign relations toward the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran. It benefits from recently declassified documents and an interdisciplinary, transnational approach to explore different aspects of the relations between these three countries. While the 20th century has been referred to as the "American Century," this book posits that the 21st century will be shaped by relations between the United States and key countries in Asia, in particular China and Iran.

In assessing the United States' foreign policy towards China and Iran over the past six decades the chapters focus on several key themes: interaction, normalization, and confrontation. The book provides an insight into how and why Washington has developed and implemented its policies toward Beijing and Tehran, and examines how China and Iran have developed policies toward the United States and internationally. Finally, it draws on the insights of leading scholars discussing the future of relations between Beijing and Tehran.

This interdisciplinary book brings a unique perspective to the international relations of the 20th century and beyond, and will benefit students and scholars of U.S. foreign relations as well as Middle Eastern and East Asian history and politics.

Review Quotes

"In this wonderful volume, Professor Khalil has assembled a group of young and established scholars to reflect on the state of Sino-American and Iranian-American relations over the last six decades. The result is a treasure trove of brilliant insights and analysis of primary documents pertaining to two of America's most contentious foreign policy relations. Diplomatic historians and aficionados of foreign policy should put this book on their required reading list." --Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Professor of Political Science, Syracuse University, USA

"This fascinating collection draws together experts on US relations with two distinct if equally challenging Asian powers in a single volume. It should be essential reading for all those interested in international relations and the projection of American power across a critical century of geopolitical change." --Ali Asari, Professor of History, University of St Andrews, UK

"In 1979, Iran and China inaugurated a new era in their relationships with the USA but in two diametrically divergent directions. Whilst the clerical regime of Iran ended nearly three decades of cordial relations with the USA by occupying the US embassy and taking hostage its diplomats, China opened formal diplomatic relations with the US under Den Xiaoping, who in a seemingly ideological about turn accelerated the economic reforms by adopting a market model. The publication of this edited volume could not be more timely, as one of the characteristics of the 21st century thus far has been these epoch-making shifts in the relationships between the USA with China on one hand and Iran, on the other. The editor is right to suggest that this could be a decisive factor in the shaping of the present century. With 12 insightful and well-documented chapters, this volume explores in detail the development of these two divergent processes and discusses their causes, complex mechanisms and their achieved or impending consequences. This is an essential reading for students of history and international relations." --Hormoz Ebrahimnejad, Lecturer in History, University of Southampton, UK

About the Author