Middle East Security Issues In The Shadow Of Weapons Of Mass Destruction Proliferation December 1999

This book examines the state of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and the issues it faces in the early 21st century. Despite the fact that most countries in the world have signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) there is growing concern that the NPT is in serious trouble and may not be able to stop the further spread of nuclear weapons. If so, international stability will be undermined, with potentially disastrous consequences, and the vision of a nuclear weapon-free world will become utterly unrealistic. More specifically, the NPT is exposed to four main challenges, explored in this book: challenges from outside, as three countries that have not signed the Treaty – Israel, India and Pakistan – are known to possess nuclear weapons; challenges from within, as some countries that have signed on to the Treaty as non-nuclear weapons states have nevertheless developed or are suspected to be trying to develop nuclear weapons (North Korea and Iran being cases in point); challenges from below in the shape of terrorists and other non-state actors who may want to acquire radioactive materials or even nuclear weapons; and, finally, challenges from above due to the perceived failure of the five legal nuclear weapons states to keep their part of the ‘double bargain’ made by the parties of the NPT and take serious steps towards nuclear disarmament. This book will be of much interest to students of nuclear proliferation, international security, war and conflict studies and IR in general.

Globalization is an ongoing and pervasive phenomenon which is redefining the economic, social and cultural dynamics of contemporary societies. Increased interconnection between nations through expanding political ties and greater economic and cultural integration, combined with expanding global wealth has resulted in greater interaction between diverse countries across the globe. The process of globalization is generally considered a beneficial one, but it is also viewed in some quarters as a threat to national sovereignty and indigenous culture. Furthermore, although globalization has largely arisen as a result of a more stable and secure world, the factors that have contributed to its rise also assist factions that are interested in destabilizing the world. Without global integration, terrorist groups, for example, would find it much more difficult to unobtrusively communicate, travel, and transfer money and materials. Globalization has also facilitated illegal international trade, be it in materials, people or money. In order to contribute to the ever-expanding debate concerning the impact of globalization on global development, the ECSSR hosted a specialized conference under the title Globalization in the 21st Century: How Interconnected is the World? in Abu Dhabi on April 23–25, 2007. Visiting experts at the conference were invited to share their views on globalization and to examine the phenomenon, thus introducing as many perspectives as possible. The conference speakers hail from diverse academic, professional and decision-making backgrounds and represent a broad range of opinions and a high level of expertise. This volume is a valuable collection of these expert views, covering: globalization and its economic foundations and manifestations; migration and freedom of mobility; the social implications of globalization; politics in a globalized international system; new security threats resulting from globalization; and evolving national and commercial global responsibilities.

This publication, written in English and Arabic, contains an edited collection of papers given at the conference, held in February 2003 in Cairo, organised by the League of Arab States and UNIDIR. The objective of the meeting was to discuss global non-proliferation regimes, regional experiences with establishing nuclear weapons free zones (NWFZs), the role of international organisations and practical options for the creation of a 'weapons of mass destruction' (WMD) free zone in the Middle East.

This monograph addresses the important question of the security implications for the nations of the region of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. The Strategic Studies Institute is pleased to offer the monograph as a contribution to the national security debate on this important issue. The author offers a unique perspective based on extensive interviews that he conducted in the region, and makes specific policy recommendations for U.S. military and civilian decisionmakers.

The ten authors of the essays in this study examine issues that the US must address if its national security policy in the Middle East is to be well informed. In "NBC and Missile Proliferation in the Middle East," Lawrence Scheinman summarizes the nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons capabilities and missile systems of Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Libya, and Syria. Scheinman argues that that stability in the region is best served by universal adherence to treaties to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Anthony R. Cordesman, in his essay "Recent Developments in the Persian Gulf," looks at both the conventional and WMD military balance between the states in the region. He assesses the volume of arms transfers to each state in the region and their impact on balance of power in the region. In "Arab Perspectives on Middle Eastern Security," Ibrahim A. Karawan, concludes that the lack of success in curbing the spread of nuclear weapons in the Middle East is not surprising. Karawan asserts that the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons among Arab and Middle East states is a natural deterrence response. Avner Cohen, in "Regional Security and Arms Control in the Middle East: The Nuclear Dimension," explains the diametrically opposite approaches taken by the two sides in the arms control and regional security negotiations. Cohen asserts that the future of nuclear arms control in the region will depend on progress toward the settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the evolution of politics and society in states outside the region. In "The Egyptian-Israeli confrontation over the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty," W. Andrew Terrill compares and contrasts the Egyptian and Israeli views of how best to achieve a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East.