Academic essay

Middle East after Arab Spring

by Oleksandra Malichenko

 

The wave of freedom and democracy that washed over much of the world in the 1980s and 1990s was bound to blow-out to the Arab world in time. In 2011, it finally did. The messy, sometimes hazardous results of the short term should give way to the long-term reimbursements that human liberty usually brings.

Escalation of the conflict of interests in the Middle East among key regional actors (Turkey, Iran) and extra-regional actors in world politics (the U.S. / NATO, EU). Strengthening inter-clan fighting in parallel with the constant breakdown of talks on the Middle East settlement creates conditions for the emergence of a full-scale war in the region. In this regard, it is important to note that, according to international experts, the first nuclear weapons, Iran will get at the end of this year, and the international community will no longer be able to ignore the new nuclear power in dealing with regional and global security.

Further aggravation of inter-clan fighting for power in the Middle East will lead to a gain in the short-term military presence in the U.S. and Washington's NATO Allies - France and Germany in the area for so-called "stabilization" in the states outlined space.

New modes under diplomatic, military, economic and political pressure from the U.S. / NATO considering risk that increases the stability of the whole will have to agree to their location in areas of military bases in the U.S. or NATO. This development corresponds to U.S. foreign policy strategy, which is one of the key objectives set itself the conquest of the Greater Middle East.

Subsequently, two issues that will shape the future development of the constructive process of implementation of a regional / global security - is an armed invasion and the right of self-defense and blocks.

Moreover, the enlargements of the interpretation of Article 51 of the Charter right to permanently cemented by key players in the world outside of their own geo-political zones of responsibility and justify the invasion of any area. Based on the traditional understanding of the right to self-defense, then granting wider powers in the field of conflict resolution regional organizations will consider the system of regional collective security as a means to respond to aggression, leaving the possibility of using this right outside the region. However, this interpretation does not correspond to modern geopolitical realities and interests of the leading actors.

It will be increased political role of Islam. The coming to power pro-Islam regimes in the name of building a democratic social and political order in the Middle East and with the support of the West led to the emergence of such phenomena as the debate around the issue of strengthening the political dimension of Islam. This is evidenced by recent and increasing antagonism between pro-Islam regimes have come to power after the "revolution" and wing radical Islamists who are hostile to the modernization of the political ideas of the Western model, and by the secularist (secular) Muslim Organizations (Tunisia, Syria, Egypt).

Islam is used by all three of the political process, not only as a religion that can forge consolidating function, but also as a mechanism for achieving the goals of public policy. The resulting "revolutionary" experience of countries in the region demonstrated the flexibility of Islamic political doctrine, able to respond to internal and external challenges.

The threat of terrorism. Increasingly, representatives of opposition forces resorted to organizing the attacks, the number of which increases with the stability / instability of the political situation in the countries (Egypt, Syria). The more turbulent situation in the country, the more opposition groups choose tactics and strategy of terror.

 On the other hand, due to events in the Middle East more active activities of terrorist organizations in Western Europe. In this connection it should be noted that it is in the region of Western Europe has the largest terrorist organizations of various kinds - 312, compared with the Middle East - 283 (excluding  ).

"Arab Spring" on the one hand and the political crisis and economic difficulties in Western Europe on the other preconditions for active opposition nationalist forces (a prime example is Greece, which is also the largest terrorist organization ranked first in Europe - 90, compared with Belgium - 7), likely that in the short term we will see an increase in attacks by nationalist organizations that use attack as the only right way for violent psychological pressure on society to compel the authorities to certain actions (administrative reform to even greater autonomy of the regions implement more effective social and economic reforms that may only exit the Eurozone, etc.).

Increase the flow of refugees from the Middle East, characterized by a tendency to further instability may worsen economic, demographic and political situation not only in the neighboring regions. Thus, significantly increased flow of refugees to Western Europe (especially in Italy, Greece).

Today, the EU is no common vision problems of employment and, in particular, readmission (return) migrants from Africa and the Middle East (Italy inquiries about the submission of the Italian Government financial assistance from the EU on issues of deportation and were not satisfied Brussels) . Moreover, there is a split among the countries of Old Europe.

The only breakthrough in this regard was the adoption of a new European program "Partnership for democracy and shared prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean" from 08.03.11, which provides support for political reforms and financial assistance to Arab countries that have embarked on systemic transformation and relief in 'ride to Europe for students, scholars and business people from Middle Eastern countries, provided Arab governments strengthen cooperation with the EU in controlling illegal immigration.

Europe today says crisis “doctrine of multiculturalism”, the main reason - the reluctance of workers to integrate into the culture and civilization of Europe area.

International political instability in the Middle East and  region will led further to higher prices for energy raw. Expected to increase in the prices of energy raw materials from 2010 to 2035 by about 1/3.  Expert opinion states that in the spring of 2012 oil prices exceed U.S. $ 175-200 per barrel due to the threat of open armed conflict between Israel and Iran. In addition, increased political instability in Libya, Yemen and Syria, leading to failure of energy raw supplies from these countries. Inventories of crude oil in Europe is rapidly decreasing.

However, the European community of caution about such statements Washington, knowing that Iran is the third largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia and Russia in the world. Tehran controls Strait of Hormuz through which transported per day up 15.5 million barrels of oil.

 In the case of attacks by Israel on Iran's nuclear facilities Tehran automatically blocks Strait. It is in this situation, the price of oil could rise to $ 200 per barrel.

Conclusions.

Future developments in the Middle East will depend not only on the ability of the region to stabilize the political situation, but also on further redistribution of spheres of geopolitical influence most interested in the resources of the region of actors in international relations. The emergence on the political scene a large number of opposition forces, nationalist shows a further deterioration in the political situation in the region, probably worsening inter-clan struggle for power and possible loss of state control over the export of raw materials, which will inevitably lead to repeated military intervention of the West in order to stabilize the situation and receiving total control over oil in the area in the Middle East.

However, in this situation, the U.S. and Western Europe will have to reckon with renewed Middle Eastern policies of Russia and China and the interests of the military-strategic tandem as Turkey, Iran. Efficient operations situational military-strategic alliance between Turkey and Iran in the long term can lead to the creation of a new regional center of attraction, open to other Muslim countries.

Thus all attempts of the West to support further dialogue with pro-Western regimes will be negated because the Western model of modernization in the Arab world is almost impossible, as evidenced by the situation in Iraq.

Transformation that began in the region have long-lasting and can lead to fundamental changes in the political landscape of individual countries and in the Middle Eastern system of regional relations in general. This requires maintaining balanced position on conflicts and disputes between the regional centers of power, as well as regionally and extra-regional actors. The basis of this policy on the Middle East must be dynamic and pragmatism that would give the flexibility to respond to unexpected changes in the balance of power.

Literature:

1.       Charter of the United Nations and Statute of the United Nations and Statute of the International Court of Justice, San Francisco, // United Nations Treaty Collection: [ñàéò] –: http://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CTC/uncharter-all-lang.pdf

2.       Resolution 1970 (2011), OSCE #6491 from 26/02/2011// Official Documents System of the United Nations: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N11/245/60/PDF/N1124560.pdf?OpenElemen

3.       Resolution 1973 (2011), OSCE #6498 from 27.03.2011 // Official Documents System: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N11/268/41/PDF/N1126841.pdf?OpenElement

4.       Khanfar Wadah. Those who support democracy must welcome the rise of political Islam//guardian.co.uk, Sunday 27 November 2011 19.30 GMT: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/27/islamist-arab-spring-west-fears

5.       European Commission/High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Joint Communication, A Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean, Brussels, 8.3.2011 COM (2011) 200 final. // European Union – EEAS: http://eeas.europa.eu/euromed/docs/com2011_200_en.pdf

6.       Turkey, Iran must form alliance to preserve global peace - Deputy PM // TREND 29 March 2011, 08:08 (GMT+05:00): http://en.trend.az/regions/met/turkey/1851694.html