Download or read book Gulf Security and Regional Watercourse Management written by Bertrand Charrier and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Gulf Security and Regional Watercourse Management written by Bertrand Charrier and published by Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research. This book was released on 2005-02-09 with total page 13 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rivers and other water resources are one of the sources of life on the planet. As such, everybody should have access to water and such resources should be protected from conflicts and over-consumption. Many long-standing water-related disputes still remain unresolved, and the growing demand for finite freshwater resources heightens the risk of future conflicts developing. The need for integrated, cooperative solutions is particularly urgent in the 263 river basins that are shared by two or more states and in which nearly half the territory and population of the world is located. In the absence of strong institutions and agreements, changes within a basin can lead to conflict. When major water projects proceed without regional collaboration they can become a flash point, heightening tensions and regional instability, and requiring years or even decades to resolve. This study tackles the information and reasons driving the GCC countries, particularly the UAE, to play an essential role as mediators and actors in facilitating the building of peace in the Middle East. In the Gulf region, the surface water and groundwater issue is gradually turning into a cause of tension and conflict, and possibly even wars. It is imperative not to ignore the need to establish forms of management that are sustainable in the short, medium and long term. Therefore, political decision makers should treat this highly critical issue as soon as possible, and effectively address the issue of water management for trans-boundary water bodies and thus avoid potential conflict.
Download or read book German Foreign Policy towards the Gulf Region written by Eberhard Sandschneider and published by Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research. This book was released on 2010-08-12 with total page 16 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In order to understand Germany’s foreign policy towards the Gulf Region it is necessary to keep in mind that among all of its major institutions, political parties and foreign policy actors there is a broad consensus on a set of parameters best defined within three imperatives: “never again” (referring to historical legacies, especially the Holocaust); “never alone” (referring to multilateral approaches predominantly within a European Union [EU] and transatlantic context); and “with peaceful means only” (referring to Germany’s role model as a civilian power). All major political actors agree that this is the basis of German foreign policy in any part of the world, and certainly in the most sensitive area of the Greater Middle East. Furthermore, it is necessary to keep in mind that historical legacies – in particular German policies towards Israel – do play a predominant role and will probably continue to do so in the foreseeable future. In practical terms, however, there is no comprehensive policy towards the Greater Middle East. German foreign policy itself is divided into different approaches between the Maghreb, the Mashreq, and the Gulf region and it is, of course, implemented with the help of EU coordination whenever possible. Widespread reluctance to develop initiatives and approaches beyond a European context allow for a simple characterization—Germany’s foreign policy towards the Greater Middle East is still dominated by economic interest and only in very rare aspects by security or strategic considerations. From a general perspective, its lack of a coordinated strategic approach characterizes one of the central weaknesses of Germany’s foreign policy, which has become increasingly global over the last few years and should concentrate on developing a strategy specifically adapted to the needs of the region. However, expectations that such a policy will be eventually implemented can hardly be based on optimism. Germany’s Gulf region policy will continue to be dominated by historical legacies; a clearly felt partnership with (in less positive words, ‘dependency on’) the United States; Germany’s consolidation in EU integration; and by a preoccupation with economic issues (the debate about Iran’s nuclear program being the only marked exception). This paper explores legacies and parameters of German and EU policies towards the Arabian Gulf region and discusses necessary changes in order to expand mutual cooperation.
Download or read book Arab Water Security written by Hussein A. Amery and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2015-07-02 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Exploring the national security implications of the Gulf states' reliance on desalination plants, this book provides the first systematic and comprehensive discussion of current and future threats to the supply of freshwater, effects of a potential disruption, and possible measures to increase resilience to these threats, for researchers and graduate students.
Download or read book A Union of Iraqi States written by Pauline H. Baker and published by Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research. This book was released on 2008-11-19 with total page 15 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Of all the analysts who have looked at Iraq since 2003, few have conducted assessments from the perspective of a failed state, not only to examine the mistakes of the past, but to explore feasible options in the future. While the term “failed state” is controversial, it is an accepted part of the international vernacular that is widely used by scholars and practitioners alike, and therefore will be used in this analysis. Most observers would agree that, while there have been temporary gains in some areas – notably in the United States’ military “surge” tactic – Iraq remains, overall, a state in turmoil that has not been able to attain sustainable security. Indeed, there remains a high level of danger. Iraq could collapse violently – with various parts opting out of the state and going to war with each other – and become the battleground for a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran that could entangle the entire Middle East. This paper looks at Iraq from the failed state’s perspective with a view toward avoiding this worst-case scenario. It examines trends over the last five years and concludes by proposing a vision for the country’s future based on a framework that would allow the varying sects to live together in peace without genocidal revenge, sectarian domination, foreign occupation or a regional proxy war— all of which are possible if current trends continue. Instead of a centralized state, or a federal arrangement which is little more than a sum of its competing parts, the factions that make up Iraq could enter into a new political arrangement called a Union of Iraqi States, in which each major component would have political independence but be tied to a union of economic interdependence and co-prosperity. Imaginative thinking of this kind must be accepted by internal groups and come into being through engaging the region. Difficult and bold as it sounds, this could be a way forward.
Download or read book Modern Teaching Aids and their Impact on the Process of Learning written by Mai Al-khaja and published by Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research. This book was released on 2006-07-11 with total page 17 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study examines the issue of using modern technologies in education, the resulting benefits and its impact on the education process such as the teacher and student relationship. The study focuses on the issue in the light of the present widespread use of technology in all aspects of life. The study group was composed of FHSC staff, involving 120 out a total number of 186 employees. The study revealed that a large percentage of FHSC staff made use of modern technology in educational activities, irrespective of their nationalities, academic ranks, fields of specialization, past experience and kind of training they received for the use of such technologies. The study revealed that the beneficial aspects of the process were greater than the adverse effects for the educational process. The study revealed the diversification and modernization in the methods of education and that the knowledge and use of such methods predominantly depends on personal effort. Moreover, the study revealed that all staff members believed in the importance on the use of modern technology, but also thought that it cannot be a substitute for the human factor, because human interaction is indispensable. The study revealed that 25% of the FHSC staff were UAE nationals and that the percentage of nationals using education technologies in the educational process was 100%.
Download or read book The Future of Inter Arab Relations written by Nabil Fahmy and published by Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research. This book was released on 2013-06-25 with total page 18 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When the dust of the last few years finally begins to settle, I believe that we will find an Arab World aware of these new realities and struggling to find common ground, even if it initially feels the discomfort of diversity. These are transformative and historic times, for we are redefining the identity and profile of the Arab World in the 21st century. As a result of this struggle, relations between Arab countries will ultimately be enhanced by life in a more open world, by better and more transparent governance that is accountable to the people, and by more inclusive and competitive political systems. These will not be simple choices between monarchies or republics—both can succeed or fail. These changes will take time and come at a human and material cost, but they will ultimately render a clearer vision of what the rest of the world may look like in the coming two decades, as well as highlight the importance of new and adaptive foreign policies. Whether in terms of new emerging powers, an inevitable shift in the flow of energy and food markets, issues of local and global environmental degradation, or the development of new and more sophisticated technologies. As we navigate our course through these challenging times, the Arab World will witness serious change and evolving roles for different regional players. The future of the Arab World will not only be determined by the political transformations of the Arab Awakening, but also by globally occurring transformations. For a variety of historical, demographic, geographic, economic and political reasons, the countries that can particularly influence these changes will continue to be Algeria, Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. However, as our societies becomes more inclusive and more diversified, the role of every Arab state becomes even more important. Like the rest of the world, the Arab region will become more multipolar—a complicated but inevitable healthy transformation. Many only see darkness in the time ahead and I too must acknowledge the serious challenges before us. However, we must deal with today’s reality and its challenges; this is not a choice but an imperative. Despite such challenges, I see concrete opportunities to weave a more real and globally relevant, but much-changed Arab World in the decade to come. Most important, we must fight the urge to drift further apart out of fear of change; for change has been continuous and will always be inevitable.
Download or read book The Future of Political Religious Groups written by Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi and published by Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research. This book was released on 2016-05-17 with total page 16 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In a supplemental analysis to The Mirage, the comprehensive scholarly review of political religious groups in the Arab world, this paper sheds light upon the illusory tactics of political religious groups following the so-called “Arab Spring” in 2011. With particular emphasis on the Muslim Brotherhood, the methodologies of these political groups are laid bare and their true intentions exposed.
Download or read book Meeting Iran s Nuclear Challenge written by Gary Samore and published by Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research. This book was released on 2005-03-14 with total page 13 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although Iran's secret nuclear fuel cycle program began as early as 1985, the full extent of the program was not publicly disclosed until 2002, when details were released of two previously undeclared nuclear facilities. In 2003, Iran, fearing that the US could turn its attention to regime change in Tehran, secretly approached Washington to negotiate an agreement on the nuclear issue. However, Tehran's overtures were spurned by the US, primarily due to evidence linking senior Al-Qaeda officials residing in Iran to a string of bombings in Saudi Arabia. The US proceeded to launch a campaign to convince the IAEA to adopt a resolution threatening to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for past violations of its IAEA safeguards agreement. To avoid referral to the Security Council, Iran reached an agreement with the EU-3 (the United Kingdom, France and Germany) in October 2003 to resolve its past safeguards violations, and accept more intrusive IAEA inspections. In return, the Europeans agreed to counter US efforts to refer Iran to the Security Council. However, by early 2004, as the American predicament in Iraq worsened, an emboldened Iran began to renege on the October 2003 agreement. The EU-3 responded by threatening to refer Iran to the UN Security Council. As a result, a new agreement was reached in November 2004, in which Iran agreed to restore the full suspension of its enrichment and reprocessing programs. In return, the EU-3 again agreed to block referral to the Security Council. Ultimately, a key factor in determining the success or failure of EU-3/Iran talks will be whether the US is prepared to endorse and support an agreement between them.
Download or read book The US and Europe in the Middle East and Beyond written by Charles A. Kupchan and published by Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research. This book was released on 2007-04-10 with total page 14 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For decades, dealing with the Middle East has proved to be a very divisive issue for the United States and Europe. During the Cold War, heated transatlantic disputes emerged over a host of issues including the Suez Canal, the Palestine–Israel conflict and the containment of Iran. Nonetheless, these differences did not significantly impair transatlantic relations due to the solidarity engendered by the Soviet threat in Europe. With the demise of the Soviet Union, common tasks in Europe no longer overshadow differences in other regions. The United States and Europe follow different approaches on the question of democratization in the Middle East. This difference is rooted in the respective political cultures on each side of the Atlantic. The United States’ appetite for democratization may be awakened by powerful strains of idealism, but it is also limited by powerful strains of isolationism—on one level, the US would prefer to stand aloof from the world, avoiding the dangers and compromises that come with engagement. American politics is not suited to the slow pace of incremental change, the sullying tasks of nation-building and the ambiguities of governing foreign cultures and understanding their practices. No such isolationism pushes Europe toward quick solutions. Indeed, Europe generally prefers slow and incremental movement toward democracy. Europeans favor engaging target states rather than isolating them, bringing about a gradual political transition rather than an abrupt change of regime. Just as it took generations for liberal democracy to take firm root in Western Europe, the EU is patient in its goal of exporting its model to the south and east. Despite the long history of transatlantic tension over the Middle East, some signs of potential convergence have recently emerged. Although the situation in Iraq remains unstable and uncertain, both sides of the Atlantic seem ready to put behind them the open acrimony that surrounded the war; and on Iran, the EU-3 (the United Kingdom, France and Germany) and Washington have been working in unison since early 2005. However, despite recent examples of convergence, considerable transatlantic differences over the Middle East promise to persist, becoming more and less pronounced in step with adverse and positive developments in the region. That these differences are rooted in contrasting historical experiences, political cultures and political systems makes it likely that disagreements over Middle East policy, as in the past, will remain a key source of transatlantic tension in the future.
Download or read book The Civic Orientations of Arab Publics written by Mark Tessler and published by Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research. This book was released on 2014-06-23 with total page 16 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper uses public opinion data collected as part of the Arab Barometer Survey Project to report on the political and social conceptions and preferences held by ordinary citizens in the Arab world. The findings provide a broad and generally representative overview of the civic orientations held by ordinary men and women in the Arab world. The paper covers a wide range of issues that are highly relevant to the Arab world at the present time, and frequently offers brief assessments of the reasons and/or implications associated with particular findings; in this way it encourages further reflection and future research on the part of others. Finally it calls attention to the availability of the unique resource that Arab Barometer data represent. Both through the Barometer’s website and through the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research at the University of Michigan, interested parties may acquire the AB data in SPSS format. Plans for the fourth wave of AB surveys are in the planning stage. Depending on local conditions and the availability of adequate funding, the fourth wave will continue to expand the number and geographic scope of the countries that are surveyed. Among the priorities for this wave, for which some funding has already been obtained, will be the inclusion of members of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Download or read book The Future of Political Islam in the Arab World written by Tariq Ramadan and published by Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research. This book was released on 2012-10-02 with total page 16 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The strength of the initial revolutionary movements in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya or Syria lay in not having a specific leadership. Rather, these movements comprised men and women from different classes, backgrounds and religions, all coming together. In Egypt this was very apparent – many came together from a variety of secular, leftist and Islamist groups – there was no leadership. It was clear from the very beginning that these were not ‘Islamist revolutions’ as some labeled them. The Islamists in many of these countries joined the efforts afterwards; in fact, in the beginning the Islamists were very hesitant to become involved. The first to push the Islamist movement to participate were the young members of Tunisia’s Al-Nahda. For the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, the group’s leadership initially said that they would not be involved, but they were then encouraged to do so by the younger generation. Within the Brotherhood it was quite clear that there was – and remains – a fracture concerning strategy. Whilst the lack of a central leadership brought the initial movements strength, it was to become their weakness. Why? We know now that following the removal of the dictators it quickly became apparent that there was a lack of vision and clarity about what the people actually wanted. All we know is what they didn’t want; so we are still unsure as to what the future will hold. Across the board, the movements’ early strength became their weakness. From the secularists to the Islamists, these pertinent questions persist: what is the future and what do they want? These questions must be applied from the outset in order to understand the strengths and weaknesses of these movements. Ultimately, the situation is complex, with many issues to consider; this is where we are—a complex region facing complex challenges with complex dimensions. Consequently, it pays to be cautious when attempting to predict future developments in Muslim-majority countries. The current period is quite critical—a turning point. Something has changed and we can’t go back. It is now up to the young generation, even the Islamists. My position on this is quite clear – it can’t be done by killing or torturing people – if someone is dealing with politics, be they secular or Islamist, it doesn’t matter; as long as he or she is non-violent and respects the rule of law and the democratic process, he or she is entitled to be involved in the process and be part of the political discussion. Why? because is it good for all of us; it is good for you because there is nothing in Islam – and this is my position – that says that religion should take over the state. It should be about democratic and majority processes—this is Islamic.
Download or read book Water Security in the Middle East written by Jean Axelrad Cahan and published by Anthem Press. This book was released on 2017-01-02 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Water Security in the Middle East explores the extent and nature of water security problems in transboundary water systems in the Middle East. This collection of essays discusses the political and scientific contexts and the limitations of cooperation in water security. The contributors argue that while conflicts over transboundary water systems in the Middle East do occur, they tend not to be violent nor have they ever been the primary cause of a war in this region. The authors place water disputes in larger political, historical and scientific contexts and discuss how the humanities and social sciences could contribute more towards this understanding. They also contend that international sharing of scientific and technological advances can significantly increase access to water and improve water quality. While scientific advances can and should increase adaptability to changing environmental conditions, especially climate change, national institutional reform and the strengthening of joint commissions are vital. The contributors indicate ways in which transboundary cooperation may move from simple and intermittent coordination to sophisticated, adaptive and equitable modes of water management.
Download or read book Annual Book written by Markaz al-Imārāt lil-Dirāsāt wa-al-Buḥūth al-Istirātījīyah and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Environmental Security and Environmental Management The Role of Risk Assessment written by Benoit Morel and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2006 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This phrase can mean a variety of things.
Download or read book Arab Water Security written by Hussein A. Amery and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Water Security written by The World Economic Forum Water Initiative and published by Island Press. This book was released on 2012-02-24 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The world is on the brink of the greatest crisis it has ever faced: a spiraling lack of fresh water. Groundwater is drying up, even as water demands for food production, for energy, and for manufacturing are surging. Water is already emerging as a headline geopolitical issue—and worsening water security will soon have dire consequences in many parts of the global economic system. Directed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon at the 2008 Davos Annual Meeting, the World Economic Forum assembled the world’s foremost group of public, private, non-governmental-organization and academic experts to examine the water crisis issue from all perspectives. The result of their work is this forecast—a stark, non-technical overview of where we will be by 2025 if we take a business-as-usual approach to (mis)managing our water resources. The findings are shocking. Perhaps equally stunning are the potential solutions and the recommendations that the group presents. All are included in this landmark publication. Water Security contains compelling commentary from leading decision-makers, past and present. The commentary is supported by analysis from leading academics of how the world economy will be affected if world leaders cannot agree on solutions. The book suggests how business and politics need to manage the energy-food-water-climate axis as leaders negotiate the details of the climate regime that replace Kyoto Protocols.
