Crises in the Contemporary Persian Gulf

The Persian Gulf area is the world's greatest paradox. Wealthy, yet economically and socially underdeveloped; traditional, yet full of the turmoil of change. It is no wonder that this area has been the focal point of so much violence, struggle and controversy in the 20th century. This volume addresses the main strategic issues in today's Persian Gulf, a region that is arguably the most likely to produce a crisis that would encourage international political and economic involvement. Among the broader questions discussed in this book are: strategic balances, modernization, internal stability, weapons of mass destruction, inter-state conflicts, ethnic rivalries, and oil. This book provides a comprehensive and systematic picture of the region's current issues and problems.