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The idea of the panel “(No) Regional Power in the Middle East?” was based on the observation that the world region of the Middle East is highly conflict-loaded. The actual absence of one distinct regional power may be considered both cause and consequence of this structural feature. At the same time, there are significant power gaps between states in the Middle East with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iran among the most powerful actors and accordingly defined as potential regional powers. Thus, the question arises how regional actors exert regional politics in the absence of a regional power. How, if not by regional powers, are regional policies constrained? What specific options are available to regional actors? In what way do extra- regional powers determine politics in the Middle East? What are the implications for the regional role in world politics? The panel aimed, firstly, at clarifying the major conceptual challenges as aforementioned by presenting a conceptual paper. Then, three selected case studies were presented. Egypt once was a regional power but lost this feature in 1967. How does Egypt cope with this? What elements of its former role are still in existence? Alternatively, is Egypt simply a shadow of its former self? Also Saudi Arabia is a potential regional power. On the one hand, there is no doubt that Riad exerts some regional influence. On the other, despite its role as the single most important global player in oil politics, Saudi Arabia’s role in the Middle East is still limited. Among the non-Arab actors aiming at regional leadership is Iran. Due to its revolutionary potentials, Iran uses non-state actors of the region, particularly Hizbullah and Hamas, to exert its regional policies.
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