Abstract:

World politics is going through a significant transformation at present – the most significant since 1991, and perhaps even since 1945 – as Russia struggles in its war in Ukraine; as the US shifts its global focus east and renews its alliances; as China continues its rise, albeit with new challenges; as new security arrangements arise; and as new technologies and energy sources shift global geoeconomics. This presentation looks at what this transformation means for the Gulf states, and how they are responding to it. How is the Russian war in Ukraine affecting global politics and the place of the Gulf states in the international order? Where does the Gulf fit into the Indo-Pacific region and US-China competition there? Why are tensions between the US and some of its long-standing partners in the region? What effect might regional dynamics - from the Iranian nuclear issue, to the war in Yemen, to the future of Syria - mean for the Gulf, and how are they likely to respond? Is the importance of the Gulf declining - strategically, economically, or both, and what will this mean for their future prospects?

Bio:

Matthew Gray is a professor at the School of International Liberal Studies, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. Prior to taking up this position in 2016, he was at the Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies at the ANU for 11 years, and has also worked in various roles in the Australian government. His research focuses on the politics, political economy, and international relations of the Middle East, especially the Arab states of the Gulf. He is the author of a range of articles and papers, as well as four books: Conspiracy Theories in the Arab World: Sources and Politics (Routledge, 2010); Qatar: Politics and the Challenges of Development (Lynne Rienner, 2013); Global Security Watch - Saudi Arabia (Praeger, 2014); and The Economy of the Gulf States (Agenda, 2019).

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