This course introduces students to the main nuclear and strategic issues in the Middle East in two stages. During the Cold War, the region was the scene of rivalries between the two superpowers and their respective alliances. Israel developed a secret nuclear program with the help of France, and went on to become one of the United States’ main allies in the region, while the Arab states armed themselves with Soviet assistance. This period paved the way for a strategic imbalance whose repercussions have continued unabated since the end of the Cold War.
The emergence of the Iranian nuclear crisis, from 2002 onwards, gave rise to heightened international concerns and regional tensions, in parallel with an intensification of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We will examine the impact of these dynamics on regional security, strategic alliances and the balance of power in the Middle East today.
Ève Benhamou (CIENS post-doc)
3 ECTS, 6 sessions of 2h.
Wednesday 4pm-6pm in salle F. Berthier, 29 rue d’Ulm