Chapter Four: Future Prospects
Part 6. The Future Role of the West in the Middle East
In this book, we have examined the impact of Western involvement in the Middle East during the modern era. Often motivated by self-interested concerns or competition with other Western powers, we have noted ongoing problems unleashed upon the region as a result of Western meddling, including the post WWI map-making project, the Mandate era, impact of the world wars on the region, the creation of the state of Israel which was supported by Western powers, the Cold War era, American unilateralism, etc. We have considered the impact that these imperialist activities have had upon Middle Eastern peoples and states. Despite attempts by Middle Eastern leaders and states to break free from Western influences and even decisions by Western leaders to try to disengage from the region, it seems that Western states are repeatedly drawn back into Middle East conflicts and issues. One only needs to look at the way that Western countries are turning to the Gulf States for lower cost petroleum products in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions to see that this dynamic is still at work in international politics.
In fact, the difficulties between Western powers and certain Middle Eastern countries in recent decades has led some to speculate that there is a clash of civilizations going on between Islam and the West. But this is a very broad concept, and could easily be deconstructed. For instance, what do we mean by “Islam”? As you know by now, there is no Vatican and no pope-like figure for the religion of Islam, leading to the very valid question raised by some scholars, “Who speaks for Islam?” In the same way, what is “the West”? Can America be considered the appropriate spokesperson for the West in today’s world? Even if you accept that statement, which American values and viewpoints should be considered as accurately representing “the American viewpoint”? Beyond this, there is the fact that the views of other Western countries such as Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany, are often at variance with American views.
Still, even though the concept of “Islam and the West” is in itself an oversimplification, it can still be useful to consider given how many people in both the Western and Islamic countries think in these terms. In the past few decades, the idea of a “Clash of Civilizations” between Islamic societies and Western societies has become very popular both in the Islamic world and the West. The idea is that the two civilizations are inherently in conflict with one another due to fundamental values that “clash” with each other. From the point of view of this conception, the best that can be hoped for between these two civilizations is a cold peace. The two can never be truly close to one another or cooperate together due to their inherent conflicting values. This notion has been challenged both by Western and Islamic writers (as well as Western Muslim writers and non-Muslim writers from the Islamic world). If these two civilizations are truly inherently at odds with one another, perhaps democracy (which is a Western idea) can never really work in Muslim countries.
In light of all this, what role should Westerners and Western powers play in the Middle East of the future? The following articles discuss some of these issues. The first, by Tamara Cofman Wittes of the Brookings Institute addresses “What to do – and what not to do – in the Middle East.” The second article by Brian Katulis and Peter Juul of the Center for American Progress proposes a “Strategic Reengagement in the Middle East.” The third article, by the German Marshall Fund, discusses the continuing role of NATO in the MENA region. The fourth link is to a Council on Foreign Relations panel discussing U.S. involvement in the Middle East in June 2019. The last link is to an Al-Jazeera news analysis on President Biden’s policy in the Middle East.
https://www.brookings.edu/research/what-to-do-and-what-not-to-do-in-the-middle-east/
https://www.americanprogress.org/article/strategic-reengagement-in-the-middle-east/
https://www.gmfus.org/news/natos-sub-strategic-role-middle-east-and-north-africa
