Levels of Conflict in the Middle East

Abstract

Conflict in the Middle East is best viewed as a web of intersecting conflicts linking the international system, state systems and a plethora of intra-state systems. As such, it is typical of conflict in any extended area. The tendency of both observers and participants is to view conflict at the level of primary national interest concern. Thus the American or European observer is likely to see conflict in the Middle East primarily as it affects political and economic questions at the international system level and as it affects the security of the Jewish people in the area. Questions concerning the cold war, oil flow and the Arab—Israeli conflict will, for them, give definition to conflict in the area. Critical socio-political movements such as that of resurgent Islam typically will be viewed in terms of their impact on the primary foci of concern. When resurgent Islam is useful for the achievement of a major objective, as for example containing the Soviets in Afghanistan, it will be supported. But when it is seen as damaging to objectives, as for example in threatening to destabilise friendly regimes, it will be opposed. For many Iranians and Arabs, in contrast, the fortunes of resurgent Islam will be of consuming concern and for them will give definition to conflict in the area.KeywordsMiddle EastArab WorldArab StateSoviet PolicyTraditional EliteThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.