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The Absence of Middle Eastern Great Powers: Political “Backwardness” in Historical Perspective

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  • Lustick, Ian S.

Abstract

Propelled by the oil boom of the mid-1970s the Middle East emerged as the world's fastest growing region. Hopes and expectations were high for Arab political consolidation, economic advancement, and cultural efflorescence. With falling oil prices and a devastating war between Iran and Iraq, these hopes had dimmed somewhat by the early 1980s. In 1985, however, the spectacular image of an Arab great power was still tantalizing. A Pan-Arab state, wrote two experts on the region, would include a total area of 13.7 million square kilometers,second only to the Soviet Union and considerably larger than Europe, Canada, China, or the United States. … By 2000 it would have more people than either of the two superpowers. This state would contain almost two-thirds of the world's proven oil reserves. It would also have enough capital to finance its own economic and social development. Conceivably, it could feed itself.… Access to a huge market could stimulate rapid industrial growth. Present regional inequalities could ultimately be lessened and the mismatch between labor-surplus and labor-short areas corrected. The aggregate military strength and political influence of this strategically located state would be formidable.… It is easy to comprehend why this dream has long intoxicated Arab nationalists.

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  • Lustick, Ian S., 1997. "The Absence of Middle Eastern Great Powers: Political “Backwardness” in Historical Perspective," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 51(4), pages 653-683, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:intorg:v:51:y:1997:i:04:p:653-683_44
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    Cited by:

    1. Jeffrey Pickering & Emizet F. Kisangani, 2014. "Foreign military intervention and post-colonial state-building: An actor-centric analysis," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 31(3), pages 244-264, July.
    2. Henry Clement M., 2003. "The Clash of Globalizations in the Middle East," Review of Middle East Economics and Finance, De Gruyter, vol. 1(1), pages 3-16, January.
    3. Ariel I. Ahram, 2024. "In Search of a Middle East and North Africa Peace System," Contemporary Review of the Middle East, , vol. 11(2), pages 168-191, June.
    4. Jo Jakobsen & Thomas Halvorsen, 2019. "Geographical and temporal patterns of interstate security competition: Global and regional evidence," International Area Studies Review, Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, vol. 22(3), pages 226-246, September.
    5. Beck, Martin, 2008. "Regional Politics in a Highly Fragmented Region: Israel's Middle East Policies," GIGA Working Papers 89, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.

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