Reference no: EM132674833

1. The authors of several chapters of your textbook have analyzed the nature, scope, and evolution of the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli conflicts and ramifications of its wars on world politics by employing several perspectives: Realism (balance of power, security dilemma), Identity (domestic and regional), and Liberal (institutional and ideological). The authors also relied on different levels of analysis to explain the outcome and analyze the ramifications of several "episodes" (56 and 67 wars; Oslo Accord) in this protracted conflict.

In a comparative analysis manner, outline the authors' understanding of the origin of the conflict, the underlying, intermediate, and/or immediate causes of its wars, and the success and failure of the attempts to resolve the conflict.

Explain the authors' logic for choosing their respective perspective and level of analysis, examine the strengths and weaknesses of their respective explanation, analysis, and interpretations, and explain their contributions to your understanding of the Middle East's international relations and these two specific conflicts.

List, explain, and analyze the underlying, intermediate, and immediate causes of the "Arab-Israeli" conflict. Explain the distinction between the "Arab-Israeli" and "Palestinian-Israeli" conflicts, examine the ramifications of such distinction on the nature, scope, and outcome of international relations of the Middle East, and outline and explain which international relations perspective/paradigm is the explanatory factor to understanding the conflict.

2. in Chapter 7 of your textbook, Raymond Hinnebusch asks the following two profound questions: "Does identity shape perceptions of interest in foreign policy-making or is it an instrument in the pursuit of such interest?" and, "If identity accounts for some distinctive common features in the foreign policies of the Arab states, how far do identity variations, compared to material interests and factors, account for foreign policy differences in the Middle East?"

What answers does Hinnebusch provides? Identify the strengths and weaknesses of his arguments.