This seminar will examine Middle East security and nonproliferation concerns from a variety of perspectives. The course will briefly introduce the geopolitical dimensions of the region, including the formation of political boundaries of today's Middle East. Post WW II conflicts in the region will be discussed, including the Arab-Israeli wars, Iran-Iraq war, Lebanon and finally the two Gulf Wars. The major part of the course will be devoted to contemporary nonproliferation issues and arms buildup with special focus on Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Israel. The course will also touch on terrorist organizations based in or operating in the Middle East and their potential for use of weapons of mass destruction. Reading assignments and class discussions will also approach the topic from various perspectives: the concerns and objectives of US policy in the region; threat perceptions and security objectives of the Middle Eastern states within their regional and global contexts; political and military alliances; and the role of domestic politics in security policy-making. The major requirement of the seminar will be a research paper of publishable length and quality.