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The GCC: Cooperation and development in a new world order

Al-Said, Nadia 2010. The GCC: Cooperation and development in a new world order. MPhil Thesis, Cardiff University.
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Abstract

This dissertation assesses the rationale and interests behind regional alliance formation in the age of globalization as they pertain to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). In essence, this analysis attempts to highlight the common theoretical assumptions and approaches often used to explain the cooperative interests of states within the context of regional and international discourse. Using these assumptions, it highlights potential motives, incentives, costs, and constraints that states may consider when determining the relative value of engaging in formally defined cooperative relationships with other states. This work demonstrates how historical, demographic, political, economic, and geographic factors all determine the political character of both regimes and states in shaping how they view themselves in relation to their regional neighbours and other international powers. Specifically, it argues that states seek to formulate policies based upon these factors, effectively prioritizing their own interests and security with the objectives of self-preservation and maximization of prosperity within a global environment of competing states and regimes that essentially pursue the same objectives. The following chapters of this analysis are specifically concerned with the rationale behind the inter-GCC relationship, how it is defined, why the member states choose to cooperate, and what motivates them to cooperate under the guise of the GCC. Such an analysis is beneficial in assessing the evolution of the cooperative relationship of the GCC, providing meaningful insight into the progress of the alliance, its growth, its progress or lack thereof in promoting interests, and the role that it may play in the era of globalization. This analysis seeks to promote and substantiate the argument that the cooperative relationship upon which the GCC is based is essentially driven or motivated by security interests. In other words, it argues that the Security, sovereignty, stability, legitimacy, and welfare of GCC member states are the paramount interests of the regimes and frame their fundamental security ideals for the preservation and sustainability of their systems. What I mean by security above is not just the traditionalist views of security, which is the military, but security in its wider perspective that includes environmental, economic and social sectors at a local, regional and global level.

Item Type: Thesis (MPhil)
Status: Unpublished
Schools: Department of Politics and International Relations (POLIR)
Subjects: J Political Science > JA Political science (General)
J Political Science > JZ International relations
Uncontrolled Keywords: GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council); Middle East ; Gulf Regimes, Gulf Monarchies ; Rentier states
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 30 March 2016
Last Modified: 24 Jul 2018 09:35
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/31128

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