Resumen de Navigating a Turbulent Middle East: Priorities for the Next President
It has become a cliché - but nevertheless true - to observe that the Middle East is going through one of the most severe bouts of instability in its recent history. Major states have collapsed, civil wars have morphed into sectarian and proxy conflicts, state boundaries set a century ago are being erased, ideological battles about religion and public life are tearing societies apart, and the Middle East's regional and international relations are undergoing profound change. Meanwhile, terrorist movements like the Islamic State in Iraq and alSham (ISIS) and al-Qa'ida have taken advantage of the turmoil to expand their footprint and set up protostates. Different US administrations have tried various approaches to secure American interests and manage risks in the region. This essay examines the key drivers of instability in the region, identifies core US interests that are at risk, and suggests a number of key parameters that might guide Middle East policy for the next administration.
