The Theory of Regional Security Complexes in the Middle Eastern Dimension

• Authors: Jarząbek Jarosław
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The article investigates recent developments and changes to the Middle Eastern regional security complex. The regional security complexes theory (RSCT) assumes that security problems rarely impact on large distances and that similar threats occur mostly in specific regions. According to RSCT, the Middle East is a typical conflict formation, with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Iraqi crisises being the biggest problems and most serious threats to the regional security. The author argues, however, that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict does no longer play a major role in the regional security, and the recent crisis in Iraq, although still important, has completely different character than it had previously. Security of the Middle Eastern regional complex is now shaped and challenged by a different set of factors. This includes primarily the impact of the rising Sunni-Shiite hostility, growing popularity and importance of Islamic fundamentalism, as well as the instability and unpredictability of local political regimes.

Keywords

Regional security complex theory Middle East; conflict formation; security threats; securitization; Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Iraqi crisis; Sunni-Shia hostility; Islamic fundamentalism; instability of political regimes

• Publisher: Oficyna Wydawnicza Arboretum
• Journal: Wschodnioznawstwo
• Year: 2018
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 155-170

Contributors

author

Jarząbek Jarosław

• Uniwersytet Wrocławski

References

• Armed Forces in the Middle East. Politics and Strategy, B. Rubin, T.A. Keaney (eds.), London 2006.
• Buzan, B., Waever, O., Regions and Powers. The Structure of Regional Security, Cambridge 2003.
• Buzan, B. Waever, O., de Wilde, J., Security: A New Framework for Analysis, Boulder 1998.
• CIA Factbook, Iran, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ geos/ir.html (14 XII 2016).
• Cordesman, A.H., Arab-Israeli Military Forces in an Era of Asymmetric Wars, Westport 2006.
• Egypt: Abdul Fattah al-Sisi profile, BBC, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle- east-19256730 (14 XII 2016).
• Flamini, R., Forced Exodus: Christians in the Middle East, „World Affairs” 2013, November/December, http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/article/forced-exodus- christians-middle-east (14 XII 2016).
• Great Powers and Regional Orders. The United States and the Persian Gulf, M. Kaim (ed.), Aldershot-Burlington 2008.
• Henry, C.M., Springborg, R., Globalization and the Politics of Development in the Middle East, Cambridge University Press, New York 2011.
• International Relations in the Middle East, L. Fawcett (ed.), Oxford 2013.
• Jarząbek J., Military Balance in the Gulf – an overview, „Wschodnioznawstwo” 2014.
• Milton-Edwards B., Contemporary politics in the Middle East, Cambridge 2008.
• Owen, R., The Rise and Fall of Arab Presidents for Life, Cambridge 2012.
• Owen, R., State, Power and Politics In the Making of the Modern Middle East, London 2008.
• Selvik, K., Stensile, S., Stability and Change in the Modern Middle East, London 2011.
• Slim, R., Can Anyone Stop the Syrian War?, „Foreign Policy”, 12 IX 2016, http:// foreignpolicy.com/2016/09/12/can-anyone-stop-the-syrian-war-us-russiacease ' re-spoilers/ (23 XII 2016).
• Stern, J., Berger, J.M., ISIS. The State of Terror, William Collins, London 2015.
• Strategic Interests in the Middle East, J. Covarubias, T. Lansford (eds.), Farnham- Burlington 2010.
• The Government and the Politics of the Middle East and North Africa, D.E. Long, B. Reich, M. Gasiorowski (eds.), Boulder 2011.
• The Military Balance 2016, London 2016.