Washington, DC January 23, 2008: The Winter issue of The Middle East Journal examines the contemporary political scene in three prominent Middle East nations: foreign policy in Iran, reforms in Libya and the effects of European Union membership aspirations in Turkey. Iran and Libya are each the focus of articles that analyze countries’ foreign relations and how they impact the region as a whole. Turkey is the subject of a provocative article tying together the issues of the EU, Kurdish movements and the AKP government.

Iran scholar Ray Takeyh looks past the traditional view of the continuing Iraq-Iran tensions in “Iran’s New Iraq” and explores the 2003 United States invasion of Iraq as a catalyst for repaired relations between the regional neighbors. He also suggests that the US needs to realize Iran is a source of stability for Iraq rather than a regional nemesis. In “A Stable Structure on Shifting Sands: Assessing the Hizbullah-Iran-Syria Relationship,” Abbas William Samii analyzes the evolving relationship between the members of this Middle Eastern triangle. His article looks at the changing and sometimes contradictory goals of each of the three regional powers and delves into why Hizbullah’s involvement in Lebanese politics will be the fulcrum for future changes in their relationship.

Målfrid Braut-Hegghammer focuses on Libya’s recent reforms in “Libya’s Nuclear Turnaround: Perspectives from Tripoli.” Using numerous high-level Libyan sources, she examines the motives behind Libya’s nuclear pursuit and Mu’ammar Qadhafi’s surprising decision to give it up in December 2003. In “The Changing Libyan Economy: Causes and Consequences,” Ronald Bruce St John tracks the conflicts between economic and political reform in the nation since the lifting of United Nations sanctions in 1999. Deniz Gökalp and Seda Ünsar’s “From the Myth of European Union Accession to Disillusion: Implications for Religious and Ethnic Politicization in Turkey” shows how a drive to meet EU requirements has led to the nation’s increasingly Islamic-oriented government. In this issue’s book review essay, Jørgen S. Nielsen reviews books focused on the growing presence of Islam in Europe, including the controversial The Islamist: Why I Joined Radical Islam in Britain, What I Saw Inside and Why I Left by Ed Husayn.

The Middle East Institute is dedicated to increasing Americans’ knowledge and understanding of the region. MEI offers program activities, media outreach, language courses, scholars and an academic journal to help achieve its goals.

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