Competing Powerbrokers of the Middle East

Competing Powerbrokers of the Middle East PDF Author: Anoushiravan Ehteshami
Publisher: Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research
ISBN: 9948140869
Category : Antiques & Collectibles
Languages : en
Pages : 12

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Book Description
Today the regional landscape is changing more rapidly than at any time since World War II and the dynamics of that change are more complex than ever. Inter-Arab rivalries – between rich and poor or moderate and radical or Islamist and secular actors – have not gone away, and these rivalries have become more nuanced as power among the Arab actors themselves has become more defuse. In the absence of a single or a strong coalition of Arab powerhouses guiding the regional agendas, not only are more Arab actors (and not just states) increasingly daring in their involvement in high politics, but more disturbing from their point of view is the ease with which the non-Arab members of MENA can penetrate the Arab core with impunity. Therefore, rivalries of the non-Arab states are playing out in the Arab region, as in Lebanon in 2006. Non-Arab Iran in particular, busily cashing in on the fallout from the fall of Baghdad in 2003, is also engaged in its own struggle for regional influence, thus directly engaging with such Arab actors as Hamas and Hezbollah, and as a consequence is stepping into the perceived spheres of influence of an array of other Arab states and actors. To unpack this complex regional mix, this paper looks at the two most interesting and also increasingly influential powerbrokers of the region, namely Iran and Saudi Arabia, for insights and a better understanding of the forces that are today shaping the region. These two states have had an uneasy relationship since at least the Iranian revolution and have seen their relationship frozen – as was the case in much of the 1980s – and returned to one of relative normalcy under presidents Rafsanjani and Khatami (1989–2005). Since 2003, particularly after the election of Dr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iranian president in June 2005, the relationship has again been rather unsteady. It seems that a clash of identities since the conflict and crisis in Iraq has been added to the traditional state-driven rivalries between these two distinctly Islamic states. There are many aspects to the workings of this bilateral relationship that remain underexplored and much of the relationship can in any case be fruitfully reconstructed in a wider regional context. Therefore, in order to take this analysis forward it is necessary to undertake a brief assessment of the priorities of the two states separately, before proceeding to conduct a detailed study of the areas of conflict and cooperation that today characterize their relationship. Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Gulf security, the Arab¬–Israeli conflict, Islamist politics and intra-Islam relations are all significant components of this assessment.

Competing Powerbrokers of the Middle East

Competing Powerbrokers of the Middle East PDF Author: Anoushiravan Ehteshami
Publisher: Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research
ISBN: 9948140869
Category : Antiques & Collectibles
Languages : en
Pages : 12

Get Book Here

Book Description
Today the regional landscape is changing more rapidly than at any time since World War II and the dynamics of that change are more complex than ever. Inter-Arab rivalries – between rich and poor or moderate and radical or Islamist and secular actors – have not gone away, and these rivalries have become more nuanced as power among the Arab actors themselves has become more defuse. In the absence of a single or a strong coalition of Arab powerhouses guiding the regional agendas, not only are more Arab actors (and not just states) increasingly daring in their involvement in high politics, but more disturbing from their point of view is the ease with which the non-Arab members of MENA can penetrate the Arab core with impunity. Therefore, rivalries of the non-Arab states are playing out in the Arab region, as in Lebanon in 2006. Non-Arab Iran in particular, busily cashing in on the fallout from the fall of Baghdad in 2003, is also engaged in its own struggle for regional influence, thus directly engaging with such Arab actors as Hamas and Hezbollah, and as a consequence is stepping into the perceived spheres of influence of an array of other Arab states and actors. To unpack this complex regional mix, this paper looks at the two most interesting and also increasingly influential powerbrokers of the region, namely Iran and Saudi Arabia, for insights and a better understanding of the forces that are today shaping the region. These two states have had an uneasy relationship since at least the Iranian revolution and have seen their relationship frozen – as was the case in much of the 1980s – and returned to one of relative normalcy under presidents Rafsanjani and Khatami (1989–2005). Since 2003, particularly after the election of Dr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iranian president in June 2005, the relationship has again been rather unsteady. It seems that a clash of identities since the conflict and crisis in Iraq has been added to the traditional state-driven rivalries between these two distinctly Islamic states. There are many aspects to the workings of this bilateral relationship that remain underexplored and much of the relationship can in any case be fruitfully reconstructed in a wider regional context. Therefore, in order to take this analysis forward it is necessary to undertake a brief assessment of the priorities of the two states separately, before proceeding to conduct a detailed study of the areas of conflict and cooperation that today characterize their relationship. Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Gulf security, the Arab¬–Israeli conflict, Islamist politics and intra-Islam relations are all significant components of this assessment.

The MENA Region: a great power competition

The MENA Region: a great power competition PDF Author: AA.VV
Publisher: Ledizioni
ISBN: 8855260731
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 173

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Book Description
The volume deals with competition among regional and external players for the redistribution of power and international status in the Middle East and North Africa, with a focus on Russia’s renewed role and the implications for US interests. Over the last few years, a crisis of legitimacy has beset the liberal international order. In this context, the configuration of regional orders has come into question, as in the extreme case of the current collapse in the Middle East. The idea of a “Russian resurgence” in the Middle East set against a perceived American withdrawal has captured the attention of policymakers and scholars alike, warranting further examination. This volume, a joint publication by ISPI and the Atlantic Council, gathers analysis on Washington’s and Moscow’s policy choices in the MENA region and develops case studies of the two powers’ engagament in the countries beset by major crises.

The Changing Middle East

The Changing Middle East PDF Author: Bahgat Korany
Publisher: American University in Cairo Press
ISBN: 1617973866
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 369

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Book Description
In the era of globalization, change is the order of the day, but the conventional view of the Arab Middle East is that of a rigid and even stagnant region. This book counters the static perception and focuses instead on regional dynamics. After first discussing types of change, identifying catalysts, and tracing the evolution of the region over the last sixty years, the international team of contributors go on to evaluate the development of Arab civil society; examine the opportunities and challenges facing the Arab media; link the debates concerning Arab political thought to the evolving regional and international context; look at the transformation of armed Islamist movements into deradicalized factions; assess how and to what extent women’s empowerment is breaking down patriarchy; and analyze the rise of non-state actors such as Hizbollah and Hamas that rival central political authority. The book concludes with data tables that provide an easy quantitative guide to some aspects of these regional dynamics. Contributors: Rasha A. Abdulla, Ola AbouZeid, Omar Ashour, Julie C. Herrick, Amani Kandil, Hazem Kandil, Bahgat Korany.

Dynamics of Change in the Persian Gulf Political Economy, War and Revolution

Dynamics of Change in the Persian Gulf Political Economy, War and Revolution PDF Author: Anoushiravan Ehteshami
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0415657571
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 306

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Book Description
The Persian Gulf has come to represent one of the most strategically significant waterways of the world. In terms of geography, geopolitics, resources, global political economy, and regional influence, the Gulf is perhaps home to the world's most significant group of countries. Focusing on the complexities of the interplay between domestic-level changes and region-wide interactions, this book presents the reader with the first comprehensive survey of the dynamics of change in this crucial area. Systemic-oriented in its approach, the impact of war and revolution on the countries of the sub-region is discussed, and the ways in which these factors have shaped the security dilemmas and responses of the Gulf States is also explored. The role of oil is examined in terms of the impact of its income on these states and societies, and the manner in which oil has shaped the integration of these states into the global system. Oil has shrunk developmental time in these countries, and has accelerated generational shift. At the same time, it has created the dialectical relationship which now characterizes the difficult balance between prosperity and instability which is at the heart of the sub-region. Casting new light on the workings of a strategically significant part of the international system, this book will be an essential resource for students and scholars of international relations, international security and Middle Eastern politics.

Rewiring Regional Security in a Fragmented World

Rewiring Regional Security in a Fragmented World PDF Author: Chester A. Crocker
Publisher: US Institute of Peace Press
ISBN: 1601270704
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 618

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Book Description
Rewiring Regional Security in a Fragmented World examines conflict management capacities and gaps regionally and globally, and assesses whether regions--through their regional organizations or through loose coalitions of states, regional bodies, and non-official actors--are able to address an array of new and emerging security threats.

Handbook of Nuclear Proliferation

Handbook of Nuclear Proliferation PDF Author: Harsh V Pant
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136894438
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 376

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Book Description
The chapters of this proposed volume are intended to shed light on the diverse themes surrounding this very important issue area in international security. Each of the six major sections addresses an aspect of nuclear proliferation that will be critical in determining the future trajectory of global politics in the years to come. The first section examines the major thematic issues underlying the contemporary discourse on nuclear proliferation. How do we understand this period in proliferation? What accounts for a taboo on the use of nuclear weapons so far and will it survive? What is the present state of nuclear deterrence models built during the Cold War? What is the relationship between the pursuit of civilian nuclear energy and the risks of proliferation? Why are we witnessing a move away from non-proliferation to counter-proliferation? The second section gives an overview of the evolving nuclear policies of the five established nuclear powers: the USA, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and the People's Republic of China. Section three looks at the three de facto nuclear states: India, Pakistan and Israel. The fourth section examines the three problem areas in the proliferation matrix today – Iran, North Korea and the potent mix of non-state actors and nuclear weapons. The fifth section sheds light on an important issue often ignored during discussions of nuclear proliferation – cases where states have made a deliberate policy choice of either renouncing their nuclear weapons programme, or have decided to remain a threshold state. The cases of South Africa, Egypt and Japan will be the focus of this section. The final section will examine the present state of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, which most observers agree is currently facing a crisis of credibility. The three pillars of this regime – the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), and the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) – will be examined. This is followed by an analysis of the present trends and prospects for US-Russia nuclear arms control. The impact of missile defenses and the US-India civilian nuclear energy co-operation pact will be examined so as to ascertain whether they have weakened or strengthened the global non-proliferation regime. The chapters in this volume aim to document the increasing complexity of the global nuclear proliferation dynamic and the inability of the international community to come to terms with a rapidly changing strategic milieu. The future, in all likelihood, will be very different from the past, and the chapters in this volume will try to develop a framework that may help gain a better understanding of the forces that will shape the nuclear proliferation debate in the years to come. Proposed Contents Introduction – Overview Part 1: Thematic Issues The Second Nuclear Age The Nuclear Taboo Nuclear Deterrence Nuclear Energy and Non-Proliferation Non-Proliferation and Counter Proliferation Non-State Actors and Nuclear Weapons Part 2: The Five Nuclear Powers USA Russia United Kingdom France People's Republic of China Part 3: De Facto Nuclear States India Pakistan Israel Part 4: The ‘Problem’ States Iran North Korea Part 5: The ‘Threshold’ States South Africa Japan Egypt Part 6: The Global Non-Proliferation Regime The NPT The CTBT The FMCT US-Russia Nuclear Arms Control The Impact of Missile Defenses The US-India Nuclear Deal The Future: What It May Hold In Store Conclusion

Competing Powerbrokers of the Middle East

Competing Powerbrokers of the Middle East PDF Author: Anoushiravan Ehteshami
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789948009863
Category : Iran
Languages : en
Pages : 64

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Book Description


The Development of Saudi-Iranian Relations since the 1990s

The Development of Saudi-Iranian Relations since the 1990s PDF Author: Fahad M. Alsultan
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 131703595X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 228

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Book Description
Saudi Arabia and Iran have established themselves as the two regional heavyweights in one of the world’s most tumultuous but critically significant regions. The two countries compete on many fronts, including regional politics, oil prices, and for leadership of the Islamic world, a competition with undeniable repercussions for the Greater Middle East and for the world. Some observers have gone so far as to claim that virtually everything that happens in this area of the world can be viewed as part of the Saudi-Iranian power struggle. With increasing importance of the region as the dominant supplier of world energy and the birthplace of Islamic militant groups, the consequences of not understanding Saudi-Iranian rivalry in the region have never been more serious. A range of internal and external explanatory factors explains the ups and downs of Saudi-Iranian relations since the 1990s. This book captures this complexity by drawing on multicausal explanations through multiple levels of interdisciplinary analysis. This is the first book on the subject that is co-authored by one author from Saudi Arabia and one from Iran. This collaboration allowed the authors to make the best use of Persian and Arabic sources, generating a locally meaningful account of the two countries’ relationship. As Iranian and Saudi nationals, they encountered less difficulty in gaining access to research participants, building rapport and conducting interviews with Iranian and Saudi scholars and informants.

Inside the Middle East

Inside the Middle East PDF Author: Avi Melamed
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 151076934X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 408

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Book Description
Why Is the Middle East Entering a “New Era?” Is It a New Dawn? Is It a Setting Sun? In the third decade of the twenty-first century, the Middle East is entering a new era. A multifaceted and intricate equilibrium will write the next chapter of this region. The new era we are entering is fraught with challenges and full of opportunities. The new era is both defined by, and a result of, a combination of ancient and modern, domestic, regional, and international processes. Iran and Turkey each strive to position themselves as the regional superpower. In parallel, the people of the region struggle to overcome increasing domestic challenges. These developments, combined with an escalating struggle over path, identity, and direction, could result in a new model of statehood in the Arab world. While some countries take the turbulent path toward a possible new statehood model, others are fighting for their sovereignty and survival. All of this is occurring while Western hegemony in the Middle East is coming to an end and the Eastern giants are on the rise. Acclaimed Middle East expert, an Israeli fluent in Arabic, English, and Hebrew, Avi Melamed has a proven exceptional record of foreseeing the evolution of events in the Middle East and their impact on a local and regional level. In this book, Melamed takes you on a fascinating eye-opening journey through the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East in the third decade of the twenty first century. He challenges common Western concepts, narratives, and theories. And he provides predictions about some of the most central regional issues of the day. Using primarily sources from the region, Avi Melamed provides a professional, rare insider’s view and clearly and insightfully contextualizes current regional events. Inside The Middle East: Entering a New Era provides the knowledge and tools to connect the dots. This distinct understanding allows the reader to build a multidimensional picture of the geopolitical reality of the Middle East today and provides an unparalleled foundation for navigating the events of tomorrow.

Middle East Crisis An Outline

Middle East Crisis An Outline PDF Author: Dr. A. Ahammad
Publisher: Arambagh Book House (ABH Books)
ISBN: 9395355832
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 39

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Book Description
About The Book :- "Middle East Crisis: An Outline" by Dr. A. Ahammad offers a comprehensive analysis of the challenges facing the Middle East region. Divided into key chapters, it covers: Historical Background: Traces historical roots, including colonialism and conflicts. Political Dynamics: Explores Arab-Israeli conflict, sectarian tensions, and non-state actors. Social and Cultural Dimensions: Examines identity, religion, and challenges of social cohesion. Economic Challenges: Analyzes poverty, unemployment, and their impact on stability. Humanitarian Crisis: Details refugee plight and challenges of providing aid. Pathways to Peace: Explores diplomatic solutions and reconciliation efforts. The book provides valuable insights for scholars, policymakers, and journalists interested in understanding the region's complexities and seeking pathways to peace.