The Changing Security Dynamics of the Persian Gulf

The contradictory trends of the 'post-Arab Spring' landscape form both the backdrop to, and the focus of, this volume on the changing security dynamics of the Persian Gulf, defined as the six GCC states plus Iraq and Iran. The political and economic upheaval triggered by the uprisings of 2011, and the rapid emergence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in 2014, have underscored the vulnerability of regional states to an intersection of domestic pressures and external shocks. The initial phase of the uprisings has given way to a series of messy and uncertain transitions that have left societies deeply fractured and ignited violence both within and across states. The bulk of the protests, with the notable exception of Bahrain, occurred outside the Gulf region, but Persian Gulf states were at the forefront of the political, economic, and security response across the Middle East. This volume provides a timely and comparative study of how security in the Persian Gulf has evolved and adapted to the growing uncertainty of the post-2011 regional landscape.

About the Author :
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen is a Research Fellow for the Middle East at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy and an Affiliate Professor at the University of Washington-Seattle as well as an Associate Fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House). Coates Ulrichsen's research spans the fields of history, politics and economics, and international relations and has focused extensively on the emergence of longer-term and non-traditional threats to the security and stability of Persian Gulf states. He is the author of five books, including Insecure Gulf: The End of Certainty and the Transition to the Post-Oil Era (OUP, 2011), Qatar and the Arab Spring (Oxford University Press, 2014), The First World War in the Middle East (OUP, 2014) and The Gulf States in International Political Economy (Palgrave Macmillan, 2015), and most recently The United Arab Emirates: Power, Politics, and Policymaking (Routledge, 2016).

Review :
"This volume on the Persian Gulf offers an exceptionally rich set of analytical papers focusing on the internal and external security drivers of policy in key Gulf states, and enriches the analysis by also shedding light on the forces which are shaping relations between these states as well. An excellent addition to the growing body of knowledge on this strategically-important sub-region."-- Anoush Ehteshami, Professor of International Relations at Durham University and author of Dynamics of Change in the Persian Gulf "Ulrichsen is one of the most perceptive and prolific analysts of the Persian Gulf, and here he assembles an all-star list of contributors to examine the changes and intersections of domestic and international politics and regional security structures. Following a masterful introduction by the editor, chapters treat little-understood topics such as the policy of the GCC states toward ISIS, North Africa and India, and Iran-Saudi relations. Also explored are attempts by the Gulf states to reformulate the "ruling bargain" that until now has ensured domestic tranquility, the global energy landscape, the increasing economic role of Gulf royals, youth protests in Kuwait, and the Saudi succession. These essays could not be more timely." -- Lawrence G. Potter, Adjunct Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University "Ulrichsen combines some rich academic chapters in this book where the pros and cons of the GCC countries' internal and external security issues are discussed."-- Insight Turkey