James Worrall

This volume is a key text for understanding the major regional international organizations of the Middle East. Analysing the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Arab-Maghreb Union in a concise and accessible format, it explores their successes and failures across their full range of activities (economic, social, and political), while contextualising the reasons why many consider that these organizations have stalled.The book:- assesses the reasons why IOs in the Middle East are under-developed relative to neighbouring regional organizations;- explores their history, evolution, and structure, while considering the successes and failures of each IO;- analyses the reasons for the specific difficulties faced by each organization through the context of intra-regional relations;- develops a new framework for analysing the forces that have shaped these bodies and challenges the existing narrative that largely ignores the achievements and prospects of the organizations;- considers the likely impact of the Arab Spring upon the future development of these frequently overlooked regional international organizations.This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of Middle East studies, international organizations, and global governance, as well as diplomats and policymakers

This volume is a key text for understanding the major regional international organizations of the Middle East. Analysing the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Arab-Maghreb Union in a concise and accessible format, it explores their successes and failures across their full range of activities (economic, social, and political), while contextualising the reasons why many consider that these organizations have stalled.The book:- assesses the reasons why IOs in the Middle East are under-developed relative to neighbouring regional organizations;- explores their history, evolution, and structure, while considering the successes and failures of each IO;- analyses the reasons for the specific difficulties faced by each organization through the context of intra-regional relations;- develops a new framework for analysing the forces that have shaped these bodies and challenges the existing narrative that largely ignores the achievements and prospects of the organizations;- considers the likely impact of the Arab Spring upon the future development of these frequently overlooked regional international organizations.This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of Middle East studies, international organizations, and global governance, as well as diplomats and policymakers

This detailed analysis follows the rise and evolution of Hezbollah from an Islamic resistance movement to its role as a governing force in Lebanon, exploring the group's impact on the security and power dynamics in the Middle East.This is the first book of its kind to offer a comprehensive study of Hezbollah, providing an overview of the organization's key personalities, events, and structures over the past three decades. Inspired by the latest terrorism research and contemporary developments in the Middle East, the book reflects upon Hezbollah's religious foundations and its present role as a player in Middle East relations.Chapters place Hezbollah within the Middle East security environment, analyzing the rise of the Party of God within the context of Iranian-inspired Shi'a activism, examining the ideological underpinnings of the movement, and addressing its dominant political position post Arab Spring. This authoritative volume introduces the party's full range of activities, including resistance, propaganda, organized crime, and educational facilities. The content highlights Hezbollah's role as a social welfare provider—specifically, the types of aid given, the source of financing for the endeavor, and the challenge this role presents to the Lebanese state.