review of how economic globalization triggered a series of events that made it possible for Gulf states to gain more influence in global governance
e Gulf Goes Global: The evolving role of Gulf countries in the Middle East and North Africa and beyond is a working paper written by Kristen Coates Ulrichsen, a Research Fellow, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University. It was published in December 2013 as part of FRIDE and HIVOS’ project Transitions and Geopolitics in the Arab World: links and implications for international actors.
Purpose
The main objective of this paper is to provide a detailed review of how economic globalization triggered a series of events that made it possible for Gulf states to gain more influence in global governance and in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Thesis
Regional and international events such as the global financial crisis of 2007-8, America’s pivot to Asia, and the Arab spring played a role in enhancing Gulf States’ power and influence in MENA and in global institutions.
Main Points
The author has divided the article into two parts. The first part focuses on the different factors that contributed to the emergence of Gulf states as a global actor. First, after the global financial crisis of 2007 and 2008, the world was subjected to constant changes that provided an opportunity for Gulf countries to increase its representation in frameworks of global governance. The second part of the article focuses on how the Gulf region has reacted to changes within the region and in the world. Gulf countries have increased their influence within the region and beyond by providing funds to MENA states in transition and international institutions in need of recapitalizing. Also, they have taken up mediatory roles in Arab countries like Yemen and Egypt, which were experiencing conflict.
Evidence
The author documents that Gulf states used their wealth funds to recapitalize western financial institutions that were struggling. In addition, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were involved in recreating the structures of energy governance. Second, the author argues that the involvement of Gulf countries in governance of globalization took place at the backdrop of geopolitical changes, which was characterized by increased interdependencies and the development of a coalition of convenience.
The author argues that the Arab Spring sparked a series of events that increased the involvement of the Gulf States in MENA. After the Arab Spring, Gulf countries provided aid assistance to new political elites in North Africa. The financial support offered by Gulf countries were not linked to governance performance or political reform. In addition, countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar played a major role in mobilizing and providing weapons to those opposing Bashar al-Assad in Syria. While Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates intervened in Bahrain to ensure the ruling family was not toppled by pro-democracy protestors.
Argument
The author argues that Gulf states have acquired and projected an increasing influence on the regional and global stage due to their financial capabilities and policy intent. Even though events such as the 2007-8 financial crisis and the Arab Spring had played a role in accelerating the amount of power and influence of the Gulf nations, the involvement of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates in economic globalization predates these significant international and regional events.
Analysis
The author presents a convincing argument on the emergence of gulf countries as global actors. In the post-second World War world, oil produced by Gulf countries resulted in the development of mutual economic interdependencies between Gulf countries and western countries. Ulrichsen documents that in 1971, Kuwait supplied 51% of Britain’s energy requirements. Saudi and the United States of America enjoyed a similar relation. Due to their symbiotic relationship based on oil production and consumption, Gulf countries had become a critical factor in the global system. The author describes the relationship between the emerging economies in the Gulf and Western economies has interdependent and symbiotic.
The author provides an intriguing and convincing account of how Gulf countries gained more influenced internationally. Since the Gulf countries and the West had a pre-existing relationship after the 2007-8 financial crisis, Saudi Arabia played a significant role in stabilizing the world oil markets. In addition, they used their position in the G20 and the board of the International Monetary Fund to call for changes in the international financial architecture. As a result, they strengthen their position as an influential global actor in two principal areas, which are energy governance and international financial institutions. The author’s documentation of the role of Gulf countries after the 2007-8 financial crisis enhances understanding of how Gulf states became part of the countries developing global governance frameworks.
The article is a relevant and insightful source of information on Gulf countries and the implications of their involvement in MENA. According to the author, the influence of Gulf countries over MENA can be attributed to the role the countries played after the Arab Spring. Gulf capital and support were availed to MENA through investment channels or official aid. Gulf countries provided aid and invested in MENA countries. In Egypt, for example, Saudi Arabia provided financial aid, which prevented the total collapse of the Egyptian economy. From 2007 to 2010, Qatar played a role in mediation in areas such as Dafur, Lebanon, and Yemen, which had been affected by conflict. The author’s documentation suggests that Gulf countries gained influence and power in the Arab world through their involvement in regional affairs. As a result, Gulf countries have become integrated into the south-south framework due to developmental assistance to Islamic and Arab recipients. Due to the involvement of the Gulf nations in MENA, the status of countries such as Saudi Arabia have been enhanced within the Islamic world. The author does not only recognize the positive impact Gulf countries have had in MENA, but she also documents that their involvement has heightened human rights violations, arbitrary arrests in countries like Egypt, and has promoted a conservative and sometimes militant brand of Islam across the world.
The article is weakened by the author’s inability to document how Asian-Gulf relations as one of the main points in the diversification of geopolitical and geo-economic interests. Although the author claims that the partnership between Asia and the Gulf has been critical to securing the position of Gulf countries as global actors, the information provided in the text does not provide convincing points that would back the claim.
Verdict
. Ulrichsen provides a comprehensive examination of the internationalization of Gulf countries. Due to financial capabilities linked to oil wealth, the development of coalitions of convenience, and involvement in MENA in the post-Arab Spring era, the influence of Gulf countries within the Arab world and the rest of the world have been heightened. Ulrichsen’s article is important for individuals interested in understanding the relations between MENA and the Gulf countries.
Reference
Ulrichsen, K. (2013). The Gulf Goes Global: The evolving role of Gulf countries in the Middle East and North Africa and beyond. Transitions and Geopolitics in the Arab World: links and implications for international actors. FRIDE and HIVOS.