Regional Security in the Middle East: Critical Perspective by Pinar Bilgin

Review by Yousra Hasona

The short:

In her book, the author provides an overview of the stereotype surrounding the concept of security in the Middle East, as in her view, the perspective of security in the Middle East was viewed from a Western-European and American perspective - and relates to the security and interests of Western countries in the region, which the author sees as oil supplies, protecting Israel, protecting allied regimes, and preventing the emergence of any regional alliances, through a vertical military approach to the Middle East.

The long:

The Middle East has historically been considered one of the most vital regions in the world due to its strategic position in Asia, Africa, and Europe on the one hand, and because it has one of the largest oil stores in the world on the other. Based on this importance, security in the Middle East has become a topic of many controversies, as the threats and risks those states consider a priority for them vary, while interests in the Middle East region depend not only on Western interests but also on the interests of countries such as Russia and China in recent years.

To read or not to read:

Read! Therefore, stopping at the concept of regional security in the Middle East and understanding it in the surrounding context of the region itself from its inception to this day is one of the most important topics that for me as a specialist in the field of conflict, especially in the Arab world, is of great importance, which led me in the first place to choose this book, especially since it was issued in 2005, which allows me to see two different periods of time that are no less important in their formulation of the concept of security in the Middle East.