Magiran | نشریه مطالعات خاورمیانه، سال هجدهم شماره 3 (پیاپی 66، پاییز 1390)

انتخاب همه

International Requirements, Internal Considerations and the Fall of Pan-Arabism

Hossein Daheshiar Page 5

As the collapse of the Soviet Union has been one of the most significant events in the 20th century, the fall of Pan-Arabism is considered as one of the most important events in the third millennium. The legitimacy of Pan-Arabism, which once was a hurdle to the expansion of Western influence in the region, declined gradually. The demise of such figures as Saddam Hussein and Gaddafi indicated the revival of the power of major Western countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The hypothesis tested in this article is that with the fall of Pan-Arabism as one of the prevalent identities in the Arab World as occurred under the influence of international requirements and internal considerations, a vacuum is created in the region, which makes more extensive Western presence and involvement led by the United States possible.
Keywords: Pan, Arabism, Colonialism, Identity, Legitimacy, Arab World

Abstract View Paper Original: Persian
Globalization and New Political Trends in the Arab Countries of the Persian Gulf

Ali Ashraf Nazari, Ahmad Nouri Asl, Haydar Shahriari Page 25

In 2011, the Persian Gulf region saw the rise of certain movements and occurrence of some developments which brought the Arab governments of the region closer to deep political changes. The main question of this paper is what impact globalization has left on the consolidation of democratic foundations (grounds and preconditions) in these countries. The hypothesis tested in the paper indicates that globalization processes have led the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf to face a dual situation: On the one hand, they have given rise to the formation of cultural and economic foundations of democracy, reinforcing new political forces; and on the other, traditional political structures resist these processes. In this research, cultural, economic and political variables have been regarded as mediatory variables. It can be argued that through culture, economics and politics, globalization has affected the structure of Persian Gulf societies in the direction of underpinning democratic foundations, resulting in the promises for the rise of democracy in the mid- to long-run.
Keywords: Globalization, Persian Gulf, Democracy, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain

Abstract View Paper Original: Persian
Syrian Developments: Roots and Prospects

Hossein Ajorlou Page 55

Syrian geopolitics has granted a strategic status to the country in such a way that any change in the country’s political system would change the Middle Eastern geopolitics. This, in turn, would directly influence Iran’s regional policy. This article addresses the political and economic factors that caused the rise of revolutionary and protest wave as well as its regional and international repercussions. This movement is characterized with a different ideology, absence of leadership and organization, foreign coordination and armed struggle. These characteristics would make scenario-building for Syria more difficult, demanding academic caution. On this basis, a number of scenarios can be imagined as follows: survival of the existing regime, dominance of the pro-Western liberals, rise of extremists Salafis, coming to power of a new military government, rule of a conservative government in line with the regional conservative governments, continued civil war, foreign war for national unity and secession.
Keywords: Revolution, Authoritarianism, Extremist Islamism, Foreign Intervention

Abstract View Paper Original: Persian
Arab Spring and Saudi Arabia: Effects and Reactions

Kamran Karami Page 79

The new developments in the Middle East have brought about significant consequences. In the meantime, Saudi Arabia as one of the important countries in the region has been affected both internally and regionally by these developments and it has also reacted to them. Explaining the logic behind the new developments occurring in Saudi surrounding area, this article seeks to analyze Saudi conducts and policies. The author argues that recent developments in the Middle East in the domestic dimension including Shia demands, succession question, women’s issues, social freedoms, human rights questions and most importantly the challenge of legitimacy and in regional aspect, the fall of strategic allies, weakening of the moderation axis, the emergence of new variables and the rise of democratic wave all have affected Saudi place as a key regional player. Saudis reacted to these developments by military intervention in Bahrain, intervention in Yemeni affairs, adopting an aggressive attitude towards Syria and initiating a wave of Iranophobia in the region. These reactions, in the final assessment, might bring about further challenges in the surrounding area and legitimacy crisis for the country.
Keywords: Saudi Arabia, Arab Spring, Surrounding Area, Regional Challenges, Aggressive Attitudes

Abstract View Paper Original: Persian
The Libyan Crisis and UN Security Council's Performance

Neda Kardouni, Rouzbeh Kardouni Page 99

The international community applied double standards in treating the recent popular uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa from silence on atrocities conducted in a number of countries like Bahrain to direct military involvement in the Libyan crisis. There have been heated debates on the legitimacy or illegitimacy of such intervention, while thehumanitarian intervention has been the dominant theory in such discussions, which has been faced with serious criticisms as well. The UN Security Council’s performance in the Libyan crisis deserves further examination both in terms of legitimacy and method and foundation for conduct. It is worth noting that the international community’s duty does not end with mere military action for protecting civilians and it also has to carry out its moral and legal responsibilities with the end of hostilities.
Keywords: Humanitarian Intervention, International Law, UN Security Council, Libya, No, Fly Zone

Abstract View Paper Original: Persian
Revolutionary Movement in Bahrain and Ted Robert Gurr's Relative Deprivation Theory

Mohammad Reza Darzikolaei Page 125

Inattention to popular demands on part of the governments has consistently been viewed as a fundamental factor in provoking the people and deprivation would lead to public protest and fury soon or later. Bahrain is also among such countries where the rulers have paid less attention to the rights of the Shia majority. In this regard, focusing on the recent developments at the regional level particularly in Bahrain, this article seeks to examine the popular protests in Bahrain based on the relative deprivation theory. It is shown that to what extent popular moves in Bahrain notably among the Shia community have been caused by the deprivation imposed by the al-Khalifa dynasty. The Bahraini people continued to suffer from deprivation under the al-Khalifa reign and were dragged into regime change and revolution after they became disappointed at reforming the government.
Keywords: Relative Deprivation, Value Expectations, Shia Community, Collective Violence

Abstract View Paper Original: Persian
The Arab Spring in Historical Perspective

Sami Zubaida Page 153

The events of the "Arab spring" have elicited a range of comments and explanations in public discourses which serve well to illustrate the theoretical and ideological approaches to Middle East politics in the western media and in academia. How will the popular uprisings in the Arab World affect the future of states and regimes in the region? The author argues that all possible outcomes are shadowed by the fate of the contending ideologies and movements - nationalism and socialism, secularism and Islamism, dynasticism and liberal constitutionalism - that have dominated the Arab political landscape in recent decades. His overview of their rise and fall both illuminates a complex history and indicates the scale of the challenge facing democratic reformers today.
Keywords: Arab Middle East, Reforms, Democratic Transition, Ideology, Arab Spring

Abstract View Paper Original: Persian

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فهرست مطالب

نشریه مطالعات خاورمیانه
سال هجدهم شماره 3 (پیاپی 66، پاییز 1390)

نشریه مطالعات خاورمیانه

Middle East Studies Quarterly

به جمع مشترکان مگیران بپیوندید!

فهرست مطالب

نشریه مطالعات خاورمیانه سال هجدهم شماره 3 (پیاپی 66، پاییز 1390)

نشریه مطالعات خاورمیانه

Middle East Studies Quarterly

نشریه مطالعات خاورمیانه
سال هجدهم شماره 3 (پیاپی 66، پاییز 1390)