The Middle East Geopolitical Puzzle and Risks to Global Security

Moji Kheyrian, Founder & Managing Director of Center for Geopolitics & Security in Realism Studies (CGSRS) based in London, UK participates in Risk Roundup with Jayshree Pandya to discuss “The Middle East Geopolitical Puzzle and Risks to Global Security”. Introduction Today, the Middle East is in chaos! The growing disorder in the resource rich region brings critical security risks to each and every nation: its government, industries, organizations, academia and individuals (NGIOA-I) in cyberspace-geospace and space (CGS). While Middle East has had a rich past, over the years it has declined and currently is going through great turbulence and is likely facing an uncertain future. How has this region that was once so rich in its civilization, religion, science, progress, development, and which has been historically an interconnection of people, trade, ideas, and innovation, completely lost its way? Does it have anything to do with its natural resources? Or is it the region’s governance framework: its ecosystem and effectiveness? The complex challenges brought on by the growing turbulence in the Middle East necessitates an understanding and evaluation of the geopolitics of natural resources, and its role in global security. There is a widespread belief that the battle for natural resources has left a lasting and, more often than not, earth shattering impact on Middle East nations and its associated politics, stakeholders, people, environments, resources, and economies. In addition, the broken spirit of people: its governance model and systems that curtail innovations and lack of desire to compete constructively on a global stage is becoming a cause of concern. Amidst this dark scenario, the Middle East Nuclear Race is already under way. While the Global Community works towards constraining the Middle East’s nuclear ambitions, the question is will they be able to? So, where does the Middle East go from here?   Middle East Geopolitics: Towards CGS Politics Geopolitics, which is essentially the intersection of geography, borders, power, foreign policy, peoples, resources, environments, trade routes, human traffic and more in geospace is now evolving into CGS Politics: which is in essence the intersection of cyberspace, geospace, space: the power, people, resources, trade, tools and technology. In the transition to a new complex CGS politics, these factors and variables are now becoming gradually re-introduced and re-configured as they assume complex challenges of uncontrolled realities, differing directions, and varying significance in unchartered territories. As these are pretty complex risks to be managed, both individually and collectively, they play a direct role in security risks at all levels: local, national, regional and global. The question is how to manage these complex CGS Politics risks?   Middle East: Energy Resources It is said that for the last century, the Middle East has become equal to Energy Resources. It is important to evaluate whether this is an accurate assessment and whether Middle East is still about Energy Resources? While “Energy Resources” is what the modern Middle Eastern geopolitics have usually been about, is it still the same for CGS Politics? Given the vast energy resources that form the backbone of nations /global economies: its interest, influence, and involvement in the Middle East affairs, has been of paramount importance for both the rich and poor, developed and developing nations alike. Middle East needs to evaluate what else are they known for,and more importantly, what else could Middle East be known for?   Middle East: Nuclear Race The Middle East Nuclear Race is already under way. While the Global Community works towards constraining Middle East’s nuclear ambit...