Carmela Lutmar - Böcker

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.

This volume examines mechanisms for regional peacemaking and conflict management in Europe and the Middle East. To date little research has been devoted to uncovering the conditions for peace, and the factors that contribute to stabilizing the state of peace. This volume assesses the factors that contribute to regional pacification, the incentives that motivate states in establishing peaceful relations, and most importantly, how regions become peaceful. It discusses the conditions under which various types of ‘peace’ might emerge on a regional level and the factors most likely to determine the outcome. The book takes an innovative approach through a systematic comparison of two regions that are particularly prominent and important for the subject of regional pacification: Europe and the Middle East. While many believe that the European case is the indispensable model for peacemaking, others believe that these two regions are too different for Europe to be a useful framework for the Middle East. This volume occupies a middle ground between these two extreme positions. It argues that while a mindless copying of European models will not lead to peace in the Middle East, important insights can be gained from the most successful case of regional peacemaking to date. This work will be of much interest to students of regional security, peacemaking, conflict management, Middle East politics, European security and IR in general.

This volume examines mechanisms for regional peacemaking and conflict management in Europe and the Middle East. To date little research has been devoted to uncovering the conditions for peace, and the factors that contribute to stabilizing the state of peace. This volume assesses the factors that contribute to regional pacification, the incentives that motivate states in establishing peaceful relations, and most importantly, how regions become peaceful. It discusses the conditions under which various types of ‘peace’ might emerge on a regional level and the factors most likely to determine the outcome. The book takes an innovative approach through a systematic comparison of two regions that are particularly prominent and important for the subject of regional pacification: Europe and the Middle East. While many believe that the European case is the indispensable model for peacemaking, others believe that these two regions are too different for Europe to be a useful framework for the Middle East. This volume occupies a middle ground between these two extreme positions. It argues that while a mindless copying of European models will not lead to peace in the Middle East, important insights can be gained from the most successful case of regional peacemaking to date. This work will be of much interest to students of regional security, peacemaking, conflict management, Middle East politics, European security and IR in general.

This book explores theories of conflict and peacebuilding and applies them to case studies from the Asia Pacific region, seeking to shift attention to the inherency of conflict, the constant danger of re-emergence, and the need to establish mechanisms to resolve it.

This open access book seeks to provide a survey of historical, geopolitical, economic, and environmental developments in the last 150 years and to highlight future challenges it faces as it pertains to the areas mentioned earlier.