Gulf Research MeetingThis workshop examines the transformation of the GCC states’ foreign and security policies prior to and after the Arab Spring. In particular, it seeks to discuss theoretically the drivers of small states’ behaviour changes, and empirically the roles that the small GCC states played in the changing dynamics in the Middle East over the past four years. It is expected that papers will make contributions at both the theoretical level (small states’ foreign and security policies theories/approaches) and at the empirical level (specific case studies on different aspects of the GCC states’ foreign and security policies). This panel therefore welcomes papers that discuss the impact of domestic, regional and international factors on these policies and the transformation of the regional structure that led to the emergence of a new balance of power.
3 DAYS / 10 Workshops
MORE THAN 200 ACADEMIC PAPERS
The GCC states have faced many challenges over the past fifteen years due to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and more recently the so-called Arab Spring and the ongoing civil war in Syria. Along with instability in the region, there has been a shifting balance of power among the GCC states. As the influence of Saudi Arabia wanes, smaller states like 2 Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE are becoming more important. In addition, GCC’s relationship with Iran has deteriorated since the beginning of the Arab uprisings. Furthermore, the discovery and exploitation of shale gas in North America has reduced the energy dependency of the United States on the Gulf. In contrast, China’s need for raw materials and energy has prompted Beijing’s growing presence in the region even as the GCC states’ turn to the East due to the financial crisis in the West. Faced with changes at the systemic, regional and national levels the GCC states have to adapt to these new conditions. At a more regional level, the rise and decline of non-state actors such as the Muslim Brotherhood has led to significant divisions between the Gulf States. It has created two camps; one siding with these movements and one opposing them. This, in turn, has led to a division in the foreign policy behaviour of the GCC states despite the overall dependency on Western security. Therefore, the purpose of this panel is to explore how GCC states’ foreign and security policies have adapted to these new conditions. In particular, this panel will explore and seek to answer the following:
• What are the effects of changes in the international and regional balance of power on the GCC states’ foreign and security policies? • How have the GCC states responded to these changes and why? • How have the relations between the GCC states evolved and why?
• How have the relations between the Gulf States and the GCC evolved and why? • What is the impact of social movements on the GCC states’ foreign and security policies?
• How the US-Iran rapprochement will affect the external behaviour of the Gulf States
• What are the drivers of the GCC states’ foreign and security policies and have they changed over time? If so, why? • What is the impact of domestic factors on the GCC states’ foreign and security policies?
• Have there been any changes in the governance of the GCC states’ foreign and security policies and why?
• What is the impact of non-state actors on the GCC states’ foreign and security policies?
• What are the prospects for the evolution of the GCC states’ foreign and security policies?
• To what extent has the Muslim Brotherhood and other non-state actors and ideologies affected the foreign policies of small states in the Gulf? 3 The purpose of this workshop is to publish an edited book based on the individual papers presented. To that purpose the panel directors will send a template that defines how each paper should be structured to the selected participants.
