This book examines how key Middle Eastern states use diplomacy in specialized ways to expand their influence in a changing global landscape.
Focusing on the early twenty-first century, the book examines how 11 states - Egypt, Türkiye, UAE, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, and Israel - despite having limited military or economic power, have carved out distinct international roles through mediation, humanitarian aid, renewable energy, culture, and sports. It introduces the concept of ‘niche diplomacy’ to explain how states convert vulnerability into strategic advantage, enhancing visibility and legitimacy through focused expertise rather than force. Drawing on comparative case studies, the book presents a regional perspective on how diplomacy operates within authoritarian and hybrid regimes, offering insights that extend beyond the Middle East. The study bridges theory and practice, combining accessible analysis with original research on topical examples such as Qatar’s global mediation efforts, the UAE’s renewable energy leadership, and Türkiye’s humanitarian activism. By challenging traditional, Western-centered models of power, the book provides a fresh framework for understanding how non-hegemonic states shape international affairs in an increasingly fragmented and multipolar world.
This book will be of much interest to students of foreign policy, Middle Eastern politics, global governance, diplomacy, and International Relations.
Table of Contents:
Introduction Part I: Conceptual Framework 1. Emerging Middle Powers & Niche Diplomacy Part II: Country Case Studies 2. Egypt 3. Iran 4. Iraq 5. Israel 6. Jordan 7. Kuwait 8. Oman 9. Qatar 10. Saudi Arabia 11. Türkiye 12 United Arab Emirates Part III: Regional Dynamics 13. Niche Diplomacy in Regional Crisis Conclusion
About the Author :
Mordechai Chaziza is a Senior Lecturer in Politics and Governance at Ashkelon Academic College and a Research Fellow at the University of Haifa’s Asian Studies Department, Israel. He has published three books and numerous articles on China’s regional diplomacy.
Carmela Lutmar is a Senior Lecturer in the Division of International Relations at the University of Haifa’s School of Political Sciences, Israel. She is the author/ editor of five books, including Regional Peacemaking and Conflict Management: A Comparative Approach (2015).
