Season two of Lessons from the Past continues with Dr. Roy Casagranda examining the forces that shaped the modern Middle East through the rise of oil politics, anti-colonial movements, and Cold War intervention.

Centered on the post-World War II era, this lecture explores how oil became the foundation of global power and why the Middle East emerged as one of the central geopolitical battlegrounds of the 20th century.

Rather than focusing on a single conflict, Dr. Roy traces the interconnected forces that reshaped the region: the rise of Gamal Abdel Nasser and Pan-Arabism, the Suez Crisis, CIA-backed coups in Syria and Iran, the formation and collapse of the United Arab Republic, and the creation of the petrodollar system that transformed the global economy.

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Lessons from the Past at Museum of the Future is an exclusive, year-long program featuring monthly lectures by Dr. Roy Casagranda. Each session explores pivotal moments in history and connects them to the challenges shaping our world today, offering a rare opportunity for deep, interdisciplinary learning.

Hosted by the Museum of the Future in Dubai, the series reflects the museum’s mission to challenge assumptions, expand perspectives, and explore the intersection of past, present, and future.

🌍 Learn more: museumofthefuture.ae/

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🔉 Dr. Roy Casagranda Podcast 🔉
Podcast Spotify ▶ open.spotify.com/show/6aebF9BEErbbiTLEHEyV6z
Apple Podcast ▶ podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-roy-casagranda-po…

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Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:26 Why Oil Won World War II
09:36 The Origins of the US-Saudi Alliance
13:57 Syria, Iran, and CIA Coups
17:03 The Egyptian Revolution and Pan-Arabism
30:42 Egypt’s 1952 Revolution and Nasser
47:47 The Aswan High Dam and Egypt’s Modernization Crisis
55:00 Nasser, Arms Deals, and the Road to Suez
01:01:38 The Suez Crisis Explained
01:07:32 Eisenhower and US Middle East Strategy
01:08:48 The Rise and Fall of the United Arab Republic
01:12:22 Iraq’s Revolution and Cold War Politics
01:17:07 Lebanon, Nuclear Threats, and US Intervention
01:26:29 Coups, Dictators, and Political Blowback
01:28:51 The 1967 War and Egypt’s Yemen Disaster
01:33:37 The 1973 Oil Crisis and the Rise of Petrodollars
01:41:38 Reagan, Lebanon, and the Return of US Intervention
01:46:14 Closing Remarks

#MiddleEast #History #Geopolitics

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