The Abraham Accords - (The Gulf States in International Affairs) by Robert Mason & Guy Burton & Banafsheh Keynoush (Hardcover)

About the Book

The Abraham Accords: National Security, Regional Order, and Popular Representation is a pioneering effort in discussing and analyzing the Abraham Accords. It draws attention to the multitude of factors that shape Gulf Cooperation Council state postures concerning normalization with Israel.

Book Synopsis

The Abraham Accords: National Security, Regional Order, and Popular Representation is a pioneering effort in discussing and analyzing the background, motivations and implications surrounding the Abraham Accords. The authors argue for a nuanced conceptual toolkit to better break down complex strands of state, regional and international interaction, interest and concern. They point to regional dynamics being vital, especially to small states or states under attack, in terms of delivering on their security objectives and by building positions of influence. The Saudi case shows how the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, perceived US policy failures, and imperatives of Vision 2030, have coalesced to differentiate its regional relations, including attempts at both "strategic autonomy" and "relational autonomy." The degree of political consolidation, pluralism, and rentier stage are also found to be key indicators of past and future normalization trends with Israel, aspects which could have major bearings on domestic politics should the 2023 Gaza war continue or escalate further. This book includes a wealth of detail on the history and contemporary relations of Israel and Palestine and includes chapters covering all six of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, as well as Iran.

Review Quotes

"This is a superb work of scholarship that is at once thorough in its coverage, theoretically informed, and incisive in its analysis. For anyone seeking to better understand the intricacies of the complex relationship between Israel, Palestine, and the states of the Persian Gulf, The Abraham Accords is a must-read." --Mehran Kamrava, Georgetown University in Qatar

"The Abraham Accords: National Security, Regional Order, and Popular Representation offers a timely and insightful analysis of the Abraham Accords and their impact on Middle Eastern diplomacy and regional cooperation. Its nuanced analyses of drivers and sustainability prospects of the accords contribute essential insights regarding the future of this complex region." --Lisa Strombom, Lund University

About the Author

Dr. Robert Mason FHEA FRSA is non-resident fellow with the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington and non-resident senior fellow with the Gulf Research Center in Jeddah.
Dr. Guy Burton researched and taught at universities in Brussels, Dubai, Malaysia, Iraq and Palestine and has been a visiting fellow at the LSE Middle East Centre and Lancaster University.
Dr. Banafsheh Keynoush isfellow at Rasanah - The International Institute for Iranian Studies in Saudi Arabia.