The Gulf States’ Decade

ABSTRACT The books by Dina Esfandiary, Cinzia Bianco, and Tobias Borck delve into the shift in Gulf politics over the past decade. This change saw in particular Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar playing a more prominent role in regional affairs, which was influenced by the Arab Spring uprisings and Gulf states’ concerns over American commitments to regional security. The books also highlight the diverging foreign policies of Gulf states, challenging the notion of a unified Gulf entity, as reflected by the 2017 boycott of Qatar. The dynamics of Gulf assertiveness is a central theme in these analyses, with the UAE exemplifying a more proactive and interventionist foreign policy approach. However, recent developments suggest a recalibration of foreign policies by Gulf states, with a renewed focus on economic cooperation and regional de-escalation. The once tense relations between Gulf states have thawed, hinting at a period of optimism and reduced regional tensions. However, as the authors point out, one needs to be cautious on the long-term implications of this recent rapprochement.