The United States and Canada: Political Systems, Policy-Making and the Middle East (1998)
The seminar report The United States and Canada: Political Systems, Policy-Making and the Middle East contains the transcripts of comments, lectures and presentations made during the seminar as well as a summary of the subsequent discussions. In the appendices, one can find information about the lecture program, the lecturers, the Palestinian participants, and a list of relevant reading material.
Overview
PASSIA’s seminar on "The United States and Canada: Political Systems, Policy-Making and the Middle East" was part of PASSIA’s annual "Training and Education in International Affairs" program.
The Seminar 1998 aimed to train Palestinian graduates about the "The United States and Canada: Political Systems, Policy-Making and the Middle East" and to apply this knowledge to regional and international affairs. It is part of PASSIA's endeavor to meet the needs of the Palestinian community for formal education, training and practical experience in an area that is receiving increasing attention as Palestinians define and address their own political and economic needs.
PASSIA hopes that this seminar will enable Palestinians to continue the process of state-building and to enhance relations and understanding with others in the international community.
The following report contains the transcripts of comments, lectures and presentations made at PASSIA during the seminar as well as a summary of the subsequent discussions. Some of the presentations given by the American diplomats during the seminar were off the record, therefore PASSIA cannot proceed into publishing them.
In the appendices, one can find information about the lecture program, the lecturers, the Palestinian participants, and a list of relevant reading material.
We also thank most warmly the American and Canadian diplomats, the guest lecturers from the United States, Canada and Europe, and all the local and regional scholars whose lectures and expertise contributed greatly to the success of the seminar.
Last, but not least, the PASSIA team would like to thank the Palestinian participants for their comments and enthusiasm to learn about the political systems and policy-making in the United States and Canada towards the Middle East.
Jerusalem, February 1998
The PASSIA Academic Committee
Introduction
Seminar Program
Welcoming Address
Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi
Lecture and Discussions
Part 1: Conceptual Frameworks
The State in the International System: Alternative Theoretical Frameworks
Dr. Rosemary Hollis
The Phenomenon of Globalization
Dr. Rosemary Hollis
The US and Canada in the International System
Dr. Rosemary Hollis
Defining the National Interest
Dr. Rosemary Hollis
Decision-Making Theory
Dr. Rosemary Hollis
Part II: The Political Systems of the US and Canada
The US political System (1): Separation of Powers
Professor Shibley Telhami
The US Political System (2): Interest Groups, Lobbies and Public Opinion
Professor Shibley Telhami
The US System (3): Foreign Policy Making-American Foreign Policy in the Middle East
Professor Shibley Telhami
Canada's Political System: Foreign Policy Analysis
Mr. Dominiques Jacquin-Berdal
Part III: The US, the Middle East and the Palestininas
the Historical Evolution of the US Involvement in the Middle East
Dr. Michael Hudson
The US and the Middle East: The Policy-making Process
Dr. Michael Hudson
National (Security) Concerns for the US in the Middle East and the US: Origins and iImplications of the Special Relationship with Israel
Dr. Joseph Alpher
Instruments of American Policy in the Middle East: From Diplomacy to Intervention
Dr. Michael Hudson
The US and Canadian Relations/roles in the Contemporary Middle East: Weapons Proliferation, "Terrorism", and the "Rogue State" Phenomenon
Professor Shibley Telhami
Mediation: Camp David and Madrid
Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi
Mediation: Camp David and Madrid
Mamdouh Nofal
American Foreign Policy: A Case Study- The Question of Palestine
Dr. Cheryl A. Rubenberg
US Foreign Policy in the Middle East- A Palestinian View
HE Afif Safieh
The Palestinian and the US
Dr. Ziad Abu Amr
Part IV: Canada, the Middle East and the Palestinians
The Historical Evolution of Canadian Involvement in the Middle East
Dr. Rex Brynen
Canadian National Interests/Security Concerns in the Middle East
Dr. Rex Brynen
Canada and the Middle East Peace Process
Dr. Rex Brynen
Canada and the Palestinians
HE David Berger
Media Discussion
With Joel Greenberg and Paul Adams
Simulation Exercises
1. Crisis in Iraq
Dr. Rosemary Hollis
2. Canadian Foreign Policy Simulation
Dr. Rex Brynen
Appendices
Appendix A: Lecture Program
Appendix B: Lectures
Appendix C: Palestinian Participants
Appendix D: Reading Material
Appendix E: The US and Canada at a Glance
Appendix F: Maps