Morocco's strategic location, its society and its relations with the Mediterranean world all had their impact on relations between Morocco and the United States. After American independence, Morocco was one of the first countries to recognize the United States and as a result had better relations with the latter than any of the other North African countries before 163D. The reward for its friendly attitude was much needed when the French conquered Algeria and Morocco came under the threat of European expansion. During the period between 1830 and 1831,, Morocco's policy towards the United States was based on acquiring American support to fend off the Europeans. After 1871, the Moroccans simply classified the United States in the same category as the European countries. Moroccan policy towards the United States in the period between France's conquest of Algeria and its conquest of Morocco itself was affected by both external and internal affairs in Morocco. It was also guided by the reactions of the United States and the latter's growing interests in Morocco. During that period, three factors dominated Moroccan policy. First, Morocco's desire for American support to prevent further European expansion. Second, Morocco's need to resist American pressure when the United States joined in the European penetration. Third, the Moroccan attitude towards events affecting America such as the American Civil War and the Spanish-American War. The desire for suport was a key element of Moroccan policy during the first four decades following the conquest of Algeria. American reaction, however, was weak because it adhered to its traditional policy: the "Monroe Doctrine". The need to resist American pressure was a result of the United States' growing interests in Morocco. These were manifested in American support for the Jewish issue, its involvement in the system of protection and the arrival of its missionaries in Morocco. These new interests, together with those of the Europeans', damaged Morocco's legal system and economy and resulted in the collapse of Moroccan reforms. The only card left in Morocco's hand was prompted by competition against the European powers over Morocco. When the latter settled their competitions, Morocco lost its independence.

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This paper aims to evaluate merits of the Austrian business cycle theory in explaining the 2001-2009 business cycle in the US economy. The theory postulates that a monetary shock upsets equilibrium in the market for loanable funds and adversely influences coordination mechanisms of the economy. The structure of relative prices is distorted and resources are misallocated as a result. The economy follows an unsustainable investment trajectory inconsistent with the amount of available resources and with the consumer preferences. When the inconsistencies are revealed, some of the investments are liquidated and costly correction follows. After providing exposition of the theory and description of the US economy in 2001-2009, the theory is confronted with the data. Although some deviations are conceded, mainly in development of the labor market, analysis presented in the paper supports the Austrian business cycle theory as a solid theoretical tool for explanation of the economic development throughout the examined period. The theory exhibits its main strengths in accounting for development of relative prices and linking them to conditions in the market for loanable funds.

Thesis advisor: Robert Ross / In recent years, economic and political cooperation between China and Iran has deepened to levels never before reached. This thesis discusses the potentially far reaching implications the development in relations between China and Iran poses for controlling nuclear proliferation, international energy security, and the role the US plays in Middle Eastern and East Asian power politics. Monitoring the Chinese-Iranian relationship is thus important to the US, as its own influence across the globe could potentially be reduced as a result of cooperation between these two nations. With China newly confident following the global financial crisis of 2008, it appears that despite US pressure to stop, China is continuing to deepen its cooperation with Iran in pursuit of its own national interests. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Political Science Honors Program. / Discipline: Political Science.