The Persian Gulf at the Millennium

by Sick, Gary G.; Potter, Lawrence G.

• ISBN13: 9780312175672
• ISBN10: 0312175671
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-08-15
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

Throughout the second half of the twentieth century, the Gulf has been the scene - and sometimes the source - of international political and economic turmoil. Blatant intervention on the part of the Western powers in the domestic affairs of the eight regional states was a familiar feature from World War II until the British withdrawal in 1971, when it assumed more subtle forms. In addition, the oil shocks of the 1970s, followed closely by the Iranian revolution and the hostage crisis, triggered economic dislocations across the globe, as well as political upheaval and the disruption of a long-established security structure. In The Gulf at the Millennium, the most prominent Gulf specialists from both the Western world and the Gulf are brought together to look at this extraordinarily active and influential part of the world. The scholars identify and examine the issues that have the potential to affect future developments in the region, including the rapid demographic changes which are taking place, the relationship of the oil market to political stability and progress, the resurgence of Islam as a political force, the often heavy expenditures on defence, and new geostrategic realities after the end of the Cold War. A dynamic, crucial volume, The Gulf at the Millennium provides an unprecedented view beyond the media hype into what is perhaps the most volatile and controversial region of the world today.

Author Biography

Gary G. Sick is Adjunct Professor of International Affairs at Columbia University. He served on the US National Security Council staff under Presidents Ford, Carter, and Reagan, where he was the principal White House aide for Persian Gulf affairs from 1976-1981.

Lawrence G. Potter is Adjunct Assistant Professor of International Affairs at Columbia University.

Table of Contents

Preface; Gary Sick & Lawrence Potter
The Coming Crisis in the Gulf; Gary Sick
The New Geo-Politics in the Gulf: Forces for Change and Stability; Richard K. Herrmann & R. William Ayres
The Political Economy of National Security in the GCC States; F. Gregory Gause, III
Oil and the Gulf: Alternative Futures; Paul Stevens
The Emerging Private Sector: New Demands on an Old System; Karim Pakravan
Border Disputes in the Gulf: Past, Present, and Future; Richard Schofield
The Uprising in Bahrain: An Assessment; Munira Fakhro
Does Iran Want Nuclear Weapons?; Shahram Chubin
Iranian Military Capabilities and `Dual Containment'; Anthony Cordesman
Confidence-Building Measures in the Persian Gulf; Lawrence Potter
How Does Islam Govern? Diversity and Innovation in the Islamic States of the Gulf; Frank E. Vogel
The Islamic Movement: The Case for Democratic Inclusion; Roy Mottahedeh
Prospects for Conflict and Cooperation: The Gulf Towards the Year 2000; Anwar Gargash