Beyond Pax Americana: US strategy after the Arab Spring

Abstract

Ever since the United States became a global power it seeked to preserve its hegemony in the strategically vital regions, including the Middle East. In order to secure regional hegemony in the region the United States has historically articulated three main strategic objectives: maintaining strong alliance relationships, limiting the influence of adversaries, and preserving a regional order. However, according to the thesis of this article, since the war on terrorism began, in the wake of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, some of the major strategic decisions taken by the United States, including its war in Iraq, the containment of Iran, its unconditional support for Israel, and incoherent policies regarding post-Arab-Spring Egypt and Syria undermined the above mentioned strategic objectives. In relation to these strategic setbacks and in light of the enormous costs the United States had to bear in recent years in connection to its strategy, Donald Trump campaigned for less American presence in the region. However, some structural components of US engagement towards the region and some enduring strategic interests suggest that there will not be any large scale disengagement from the Middle East.