New Order in the Gulf

A masterful overview of the UAEs increasing assertive regional and international relations. Drawing on a vast range of sources, and impeccably referenced, this is required reading for everyone with a scholarly and practitioner interest in the region. -- Christopher Davidson The rise of the UAE has reshaped the balance of power and the regional order within the broader Middle East. New Order in the Gulf expertly guides us through the thinking of its leadership and the contours of its evolving foreign policy. Esfandiary is fair-minded and judicious in her assessments of both the strengths and the failings of the UAE's new strategies. Her accessibly written text ranges broadly across political, economic and ideological issues, and will make for an essential text for those seeking to understand how and why the Gulf has changed. * Marc Lynch, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, George Washington University, USA * Brilliantly provides an overview of the last 12 years of regional developments. * International Affairs *

Dina Esfandiary is Senior Advisor in the Middle East and North Africa department of the International Crisis Group (ICG), Belgium. She worked previously at The Century Foundation, U.S and the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center, U.S. She is the co-author of Triple-Axis: Irans Relations with Russia and China (I.B Tauris, 2018) and Living on the Edge: Iran and the?Practice of Nuclear Hedging (2016). She has also published in Foreign Affairs, The Atlantic, The Guardian, The Washington Post, The New York Times among others.

Introduction Defining the change and situating it in the context of a rapidly changing region Historical overview of relations between states in the Persian Gulf, including the 2003-2011 period A discussion of domestic dynamics in the UAE: the rise of MBZ Chapter One: The Arab Uprisings: a key moment for the UAE Summary of the events An Arab Uprisings in the Persian Gulf? The impact of the Arab Uprisings on the UAE Collapse of Arab powerhouses The Perceived Rise of Iran The Perception of US influence and Power in the Region Changes in the region following the Arab Uprisings Chapter Two: The US Pivot to Asia: proof of a US departure from the region The History of the US presence in the Persian Gulf region The Pivot The impact of the Pivot on the region Chapter Three: The Iran nuclear deal: the final straw The deal itself The Gulf Arabs and the Iran nuclear crisis The impact of the deal on the UAE Chapter Four: The UAEs Assertiveness what does it look like? Growing capabilities Military Political and diplomatic clout Economic and Cultural influence Intent, including the UAEs deployment in regional arenas Chapter Five: Assertiveness: The UAEs perception of success Case Study: Yemen Post 2020: Emirati over-reach? Chapter Six: The impact of the UAEs assertiveness for the Persian Gulf: The 2017 split Driven by the UAE Entrenchment of assertiveness for others Did Al Ula resolve the dispute? Conclusion and recommendations for the West