The issue of security in the Gulf has an importance which goes far beyond the regional location of the area. It is enough to note that instability in the area may result in the interruption of oil supplies to the rest of the world. This book, first published in 1981, considers some of the challenges facing the region following recent developments such as the fall of the Shah and the proclamation of the Islamic Republic in Iran, the Soviet presence in Afghanistan, the formation of an American task force to intervene in the area, the failure of the Camp David agreement and the Iran-Iraq war.
This timely book demystifies the politics of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Oman, and focuses on the new pressures that have emerged since the Gulf War. Gause illuminates the foreign policy tightrope these states walk in the Middle East: self-defense is problematic, regional pressures translate directly into the domestic arena, and relations with the United States cause as well as solve many problems. Gause examines the interplay of Islamic fundamentalism, tribalism, and, most importantly, oil wealth that has determined the power structure of the Gulf monarchies. He shows what influences really drive politics in the Middle East as well as how U.S. foreign policy must respond to them in order to forge more meaningful ties with each country and preserve the stability of a fragile region that is vital to U.S. interests.
In recent years the Gulf region has witnessed a number of major regional/international developments, the most prominent of which being the war in Iraq and the crisis surrounding the Iranian nuclear program. These developments have contributed to regional instability and have undermined efforts to achieve a balance of power in the Gulf region. Furthermore, during this period local apprehensions pertaining to the national security of the Gulf Arab countries have emerged. These comprise the demographic imbalance stemming from the vast migrant labor force in the GCC states and concerns regarding the inherent threats of the rapid development being witnessed by the region owing to its increased openness to the global economy. Internal and external threats necessitate concerted efforts to reinforce regional Gulf security via the establishment of a regional security system involving all the countries of the region as well as the cooperation and contribution of other states and international organizations. In formulating their new approach to security, the GCC states must reinforce their ability to deter intervention in their affairs by large regional neighbors and extra-regional actors. The common crises and challenges threatening the security of the Gulf countries should be a catalyst for the formulation of a unified Gulf strategy which necessitates a greater role for the GCC in achieving regional stability and fortifying the national security of its states. This book, which consists of papers presented at the ECSSR’s 12th Annual Conference of 5–7 March 2007, discusses both security threats and opportunities concerning the Gulf countries, with special reference to the foreign military presence in the region and the instability stemming from Iraq and Iran. It also investigates the need to establish a coherent and permanent defense system in the region. Moreover, it addresses internal security challenges facing the Gulf countries which have cross-border repercussions, such as organized crime and the demographic imbalance resulting from the flow of migrant labor to the region. The book also discusses the challenges inherent to the processes of development, international integration and increased openness to the global economy.
Essay aus dem Jahr 2009 im Fachbereich Politik - Thema: Frieden und Konflikte, Sicherheit, Note: 1,6, Macquarie University, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: Particularly emerging nations such as China, India, or Brazil will contribute to increased oil consumption, rising from 83 million barrel per day in 2004 to 118 million barrels per day in 2030 (Energy Information Administration, 2007). In the face of this situation, it comes with no surprise that “the world is now entering a challenging period for energy supply, due to the limited resources and production problems now facing conventional (easily accessible) oil” (Energy Committee at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, 14.10.2005). Therefore, oil supply security has become a priority in political agendas and given an “extreme dependence on supply from the Middle East holding more than 60 % of the global oil reserves” (Energy Committee at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, 14.10.2005) this region has become a focus for oil importing countries. Since this region has witnessed a variety of wars, conflicts, terrorist attacks and other disruptions that caused large losses of oil supply (Horsnell, 2000, p. 2) security issues in the Persian Gulf have become a matter of international interest in order to secure the oil supply from this region. In the following this paper will analyze major security issues in the Persian Gulf Area; such are inter-state conflict, the unsolved Israel-Palestine question, terrorism, as well as the problem of under-investment and domestic instabilities in some of the most important countries within the region. Furthermore, this paper will outline possible impacts of these security issues on the economic security in the rest of the world.
Oil and water are at the heart of the geopolitics of the Gulf. This study covers regional and international security in the post-Cold war era with a powerful theoretical basis.
Noyes var Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Near Eastern, African and South Asian Affairs fra 1970 til 1976. Forord af William J. Porter, tidligere Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs og tidligere ambassadør i Saudi Arabien og Algeriet.
Miller shows how the American stake in Saudi Arabian oil challenged the United States to create closer ties with the Saudi kingdom, compelling the move from isolation to involvement with the Middle East. He describes the growing awareness of the stratehic importance of Saudi Arabia, U.S. shrinking oil reserves and the focusing of America on gaining access to the king's oil, and the continued efforts of U.S. officials after World War II to develop Arabian oil even in the emerging cold war. Originally published in 1980. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.
