The Future of the Middle East's Relation with the West: Confrontation or Cooperation

President of the Center for Strategic ResearchThe Middle East is one of the most crisis – ridden regions in the world and a number of studies project that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future. This article tries to examine the trajectory of the region's economic, energy, political, security, and social developments given the West's policy orientation toward the Middle East and major challenges facing it. It will then attempt to present recommendations for improving the situation. Israeli – Palestinian dispute, instability in Iraq and Afghanistan, extremism, terrorism, arms race, social problems, energy security and poor governance are among challenges that must be addressed. The author argues that the worlds, particularly rising Asian powers', dependence on the energy resources of the region will continue to increase while the prevalent security prism through which the Middle East is treated will not go away, and that is the root cause of manifold problems that not only consumes the region but also affects the nature of its relations with the West. Finally, the author presents some broad policy solutions that include the necessity of change in Western attitudes and policies towards the Middle East, chief among them, replacing an overwhelmingly security outlook with a cooperative and partnership framework which pays due attention to priorities such as just settlement of Israeli-Palestinian dispute, expansion of regional cooperation, institution building and comprehensive development.