Instabilities in West Asia: The Regional Actors and Trans-regional Actors

The Middle East developments cause various state and non-state actors to be engaged in a conflict. These actors have caused the continuance of the crisis in the region with various and even conflicting objectives, positions, ideology and behavior. Non-state actors form Islamist groups to Takfiri and terrorist movements on the one hand, and regional and trans-regional state actors on the other, make their own efforts to put an end to the power struggle in their own benefit. What preoccupies the political analyst's mind is that "What kind of outlook does exist for regional peace and stability, considering the actor's differing interests and wishes? In this process, it is important to understand the objectives and activity of various actors as the main variable effective on the current instabilities in the region and to analyze the scope of stability and peace in West Asia (Middle East) as the Independent variable. Using the theory of regional peace and war, this article argues that although the trans-regional great powers have a notable role and efficacy in the crisis-stricken regions of West Asia, the roots and backgrounds of violence and tension are essentially regional. Therefore, it is far from possible to prevent hot war, and establish armed peace in West Asia relying merely on trans-regional actor's activity and will. However, the role played by trans-regional actors is effective at best in the form of creating cold war and/or cold peace. Additionally, considering the existent struggles between the regional powers, it is rather difficult for regional cold war to translate into cold peace.