The Arab opposition squandered a crucial opportunity to transition their countries towards democracy over the past decade. They were characterized by corruption, failure, authoritarianism, a lack of political programs, and an inability to present themselves as a convincing alternative to the populace or international supporters.
Concurrently, the Syrian crisis has emerged as the most severe crisis in the MENA region, with foreign-armed forces clashing, various armed non-state actors operating, and Syria enduring one of the world's most dire humanitarian crises.
Achieving peace in the MENA region necessitates initiating peace in Syria. The international community, along with international law scholars and human rights advocates, has diligently worked to establish laws prohibiting governments from using violence against their citizens and permitting international intervention to protect civilians. The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine was established specifically for this purpose, legitimizing international intervention to safeguard civilians.
However, the Syrian case has demonstrated the ineffectiveness of enforcing this rule over the last decade. This scenario calls for both practical and theoretical evaluations, as the Syrian situation still demands an immediate and lasting international solution.
The events in Syria have the potential to be replicated in numerous Arab countries, leading to a proliferation of failed states in the MENA region. Failed states such as Syria, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Lebanon, and Yemen pave the way for increased foreign intervention and the proliferation of non-state actors, thereby threatening the future stability of the MENA region. Theoretical models suggest that the impacts of state failure extend up to a radius of 800 km and persist for more than 50 years.
The Global Peace Index 2022 edition confirms that the problem encompasses the Arab Peninsula, Egypt, and the MENA region as a whole. Many of these failed states (marked in red) are likely to remain in their current condition for decades, thereby exporting their problems to neighboring countries or inviting external powers to intervene. Addressing this issue is a top priority for Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to secure their future.
To achieve any semblance of peace in the Middle East, Iran must first be expelled from the region. True peace cannot be envisioned otherwise. This mission falls upon Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt. Other regional powers, preoccupied with their own agendas and interests with Iran, have shown little concern.
With the decline of Arab influence in the MENA region in favor of Iran (primarily) and Turkey, the lebensraum (Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, and Libya) has become a battleground of failed states, rife with danger and occupied by regional powers. This lebensraum has now become the target of other powers, which are attempting to expand their influence into additional Arab territories, such as Iran's ambitions towards Jordan.
While Saudi Arabia and Egypt are geographically closer to these failed states, the UAE remains a safe haven, distant from the region's turmoil. The UAE has significant opportunities, positioning itself as the most active Arab actor in the short term. However, it must elevate its political methods and tools to a regional level. This can be achieved by leveraging the continuous strategic vacuum in the region.
Arab countries now have limited options. The most crucial is to resume their original roles as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, eliminating the first generation of al-Qaeda leadership is an effective method to weaken its structure. However, this alone is insufficient. Al-Qaeda can easily appoint new leaders. The organization thrives on an appealing ideology, which, due to structural factors, finds its primary audience in the vast MENA region and Africa.
If global powers are serious about counterterrorism, they must address the underlying factors: tyranny, injustice, state failure, hopelessness, and ignorance of foreign interventions. These factors have created an environment conducive to populist rhetoric, which has evolved into various forms of extremism, including al-Qaeda. If these factors persist, a new wave of terrorism can be expected.
To achieve long-term peace in the MENA region, it is essential to contain the destructive forces, which include:
- Regimes that have failed criminally.
- Foreign intervening (occupying) powers.
- Ineffective oppositions.
- Cross-border militias.
- Terrorism.
- Populist parties.
The region is predominantly under threat, providing an ideal environment for extremism, alongside a sharp decline in resources, opportunities, and environmental conditions.
Finally, the MENA region requires a "risk index" based on regional priorities to predict the impacts of:
- Global warming.
- Terrorism.
- Popular movements.
- Foreign interventions.
- Non-state actors.
- Economic trends.
- Ethnic and sectarian disruptions.
- Food and energy deficiencies.
- Inter-state conflicts.
Dr. ABD ALQADER NANAA