"The substance of the book was first presented in the form of papers ... in a conference entitled The Great Powers and the Near East, held at Harvard University ... August 7, 8 and 9 of 1950."

1. The great powers: [1.] Political and economic factors: The Near East between East and West / Charles Malik -- The Near East in the world / William Thomson -- The pattern of great power impact on the Near East / Harvey P. Hall -- Economic development and the Near East / George G. McGhee -- The Near Eastern economy in the world and its possibilities of development / Charles P. Issawi -- The nature of Soviet propaganda in the Near East / Leonid I. Strakhovsky -- [2.] Cultural factors: A cultural relations policy in the Near East / Mortimer Graves -- The Middle East Institute: its inception and its place in American international studies / George C. Keiser -- Oriental studies in the United Kingdom / H.A.R. Gibb -- 2. The Near East: [1.] The Palestine problem: The United Nations and Palestine / J.C. Hurewitz -- Israel and the United States / Moshe Keren -- The Palestine problem / Ralph Bunche -- [2.] The Arab world: Some aspects of oil in the Middle East / E.L. DeGolyer -- The scheme of fertile crescent unity: a study in inter-Arab relations / Majid Khadduri -- Notes on labor in Egypt, 1950 / Moshe Perlmann -- Remarks by Charles P. Issawi -- Conclusion / H.A.R. Gibb.