New Military Strategies in the Gulf
The Mirage of Autonomy in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published:10th Aug '23
Should be back in stock very soon
Examines how and why new military defence policies are evolving in the GCC
In the last decade, rulers in Gulf regimes have aspired to greater strategic autonomy and distance from the West. Coined the "Gulf moment" by local commentators, this regional trend reflects a redistribution of power in the Arab world. This is the first book to examine the military dimensions of these shifts. Gulf military strategy has prioritised the improvement of local armed forces and the diversification of defence partnerships towards countries such as Russia, Turkey or China. However, this book shows how this has led to the militarisation of Gulf societies, the further erosion of multilateral initiatives - including the Gulf Cooperation Council - and the Gulf's perilous involvement in the war in Yemen. The book also highlights enduring reliance on the West. Each chapter covers a key aspect of defence policy from governance of armed forces, military education and power projection capabilities to regional security cooperation and lessons from warfighting experiences. Close attention is paid to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, countries that have enjoyed prominent roles in the region’s security affairs during the last ten years. The research is based on extensive fieldwork and interviews with major decision-makers, officials, and diplomatic and military representatives. It is also uses recently declassified official documents to gain rare insight into what Gulf countries intend for their defence policies.
This is an important book. Although international attention is focused on Ukraine and China, the Persian Gulf will remain vital to international stability and the global economy for many years to come. In New Military Strategies for the Gulf, Jean-Loup Samaan brings deep analysis and a reputation for cutting-edge scholarship to bear on the critical problem of security and stability in one of the most important regions on earth. Concise, informed and relevant, his findings and observations should inform and support both regional and international leaders as they search for answers and solutions to an enduringly complex set of Gulf challenges. * Dr. Richard D. Hooker, Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council, USA *
An important contribution to the Gulf strategic studies literature. Jean-Loup Samaan convincingly demonstrates how efforts by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar to achieve greater autonomy and to project influence and power in a changing and challenging strategic environment have often fallen short, and in some cases deepened their dependence on outside powers. * Michael Eisenstadt, Director of the Military and Security Studies Program, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy *
Superbly spanning the scholar practitioner boundary, Dr Samaan adds insight and clarity on issues that are usually poorly understood. A timely book, it offers a readable and rigorous account of critical developments in the military security sphere in the Gulf. It will be essential reading for those interested in security and defence developments in the broader Gulf region. * Dr David B Roberts, King's College London, UK *
The regional and international political orientation of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries has shifted dramatically since the Arab Spring, and we need new tools and approaches to inform our analysis. Samaan’s book fills a critical gap, explaining the political consequences of more robust military approaches to the Middle East from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. This is an excellent contribution on an under-studied topic. * Jonathan Fulton, Assistant Professor, Zayed University, UAE *
ISBN: 9780755650712
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
264 pages