FLUID ALLIANCES AND REGIONAL INSTABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST: A REALIST AND CONSTRUCTIVIST PERSPECTIVE

The Middle East has historically been marked by political instability, civil conflicts, and shifting alliances, presenting significant obstacles to regional cooperation. These challenges have shaped the regional order, resulting in the ineffectiveness of organizations like the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which struggle to facilitate meaningful collaboration. Since the Arab uprisings of 2011, the region has experienced rapid geopolitical shifts, characterized by civil wars in Syria, Libya, and Yemen, as well as the emergence of informal alliances. A notable illustration of the region’s volatility occurred in October 2023, when a surprise terrorist attack on Israel started a multi-front war involving Gaza, Lebanon, and other areas in the Middle East. This paper investigates the factors behind the ineffectiveness of formal regional organizations in promoting cooperation and stability, in contrast to the apparent vitality of informal alliances. It employs a theoretical framework that integrates realism, emphasizing the role of power and security in state behavior, with constructivism, which focuses on the significance of ideas, identity, and norms. Drawing from both realist and constructivist perspectives, the paper argues that the region’s fragmented and often contradictory political landscape obstructs substantial cooperation.