Turmoil in Egypt: a Proxy Cold War among the Gulf States?
Turmoil in Egypt: a Proxy Cold War among the Gulf States?

Author(s): Máté Szalai
Subject(s): Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Military policy, Crowd Psychology: Mass phenomena and political interactions, Present Times (2010 - today), Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů
Keywords: Arabian States; development of Arabian spring; Egyptian politics; cold war; Gulf agreement; Muslim Brotherhood;
Summary/Abstract: The Arab states of the Persian Gulf have played a huge role in the unfolding developments of the Arab Spring, especially in Egypt. Based on many pieces of evidence, we can set up an analytical framework for investigating the transformations of Egyptian politics between 2011 and 2013, according to which the turmoil was basically a proxy cold war fought by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait on one hand, and Qatar on the other. Although the Gulf agreement signed in April 2014 clearly shows the inevitability of the defeat of Qatar, Doha will remain an important player in the region, while the rebound of the Muslim Brotherhood is now unimaginable without the support of the tiny country.

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