Gulf Studies Program

This paper explores the shared soft-security implications of civil war and a political instability in the region. Focus is granted to how these conflicts share similar consequences including refugee crises, rising terrorist sentiment, and finally Sunni-Shiite tensions. Moreover, the analysis examines how these issues affect both neighboring countries in the Middle East, and international players in the region.

Executive Summary Middle Eastern nation states came into existence not as a result of naturally-evolving and unique historical, social, or political processes reaching a nexus of cohesion, but rather, they emerged as a manifestation of the fragility of colonial power in the region. This study provides an analysis of fragile states through two case studies: Lebanon and Palestine.

This paper discusses the background to the Palestinian elections and highlights the fact that they are the first democratic elections since 1996. It discusses the reasons for Hamas's participation and the problems it faced. It also examines what issues the electoral candidates needed to touch on in order to win the election. The paper highlights the fact that Fatah's days are over because of widespread corruption. It touches on how Hamas now needs to deal with the international community and how it can compromise with Israel. The paper emphasises that Hamas is the people's choice and that, because it has many obstacles ahead of it, the international community needs to allow it time and to monitor its progress, watching how it deals with being in the real political realm.

Since the 1990s, a number of pressures have contributed to the need for political reform in the Gulf. These pressures have been domestic, (i.e. demographic changes, collapse of rentierism, civil protests) regional (i.e. Israeli/Palestinian conflict, 1991

Identity politics-ethnic and religious have risen to the forefront in the Persian Gulf post Third Gulf War. This paper traces the historical trajectory of the rise of identity politics in the Persian Gulf by the analysis of key political developments in the Persian Gulf over the last 25 years leading up to and after the Third Gulf War. This will allow an insight into the future of identity politics in the Persian Gulf and its impact upon stability in the region and the wider Middle East.

The Supreme Leader has a significant role in determining political life in Iran. The analysis of this role is an integral part of studying Iranian domestic politics and foreign policy. The succession issue has been of particular importance and subject to numerous academic endeavours after speculations of current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s failing health. The focus of these studies centres on the personalities of the potential candidates for this eminent position. This paper departs from mainstream research and analyzes the structural factors that guide the process of choosing the Supreme Leader in Iran. The study of the historical context in the designation process of Iran’s two Supreme Leaders, Ayatollah Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei, provides a more comprehensive understanding of the position and role of the next Supreme Leader. The similarities between the selection of the previous Leaders, such as similar external pressures and domestic influences, highlight struc...

This article examines the role of Iran in Yemen within the context of Arab-Iranian relations. It also examines the debate on the involvement of Iran in the ongoing political developments in Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria. The article focuses on the Houthi Movement in Yemen, its origin, growth and political expansion. It also investigates its relations with Iran and its allies in the region, and discusses other factors that strengthened its political image in Yemen. The article also provides an early assessment of the implication of the Decisive Storm military led by Saudi Arabia.