New Regional Powers Confronting Uncertainties in the Middle East

During the time of bipolarity, the notion of regional power merged with that of middle power, suggesting a limited international capacity controlled by the game of superpowers and disposing of a rather weak autonomy of action. Today, the situation has substantially changed: one of the paradoxes of globalization is that it has strengthened the influence of local actors and emancipated them from their former tutors. At the same time, the fall of the Berlin Wall has opened the regional powers of yesterday to the international sphere. Ultimately, the transformation of conflicts and their increasingly social foundation transforms proximity in resources: regional powers are obviously more and more involved in the conflict systems that border or involve them. The Middle East is thus becoming a remarkable field for the regionalization of powers to be achieved: states that used to be mere allies or marginal groups, are now seeking recognition, then proactivity and finally participation in the solution of conflicts. This triple initiative marks the diplomacies of Turkey and Iran but also that of Saudi Arabia and, depending on the circumstances, others too. Having understood this, Russia has scored points in the region, while the Westerners have been losing considerable advantages trying to counter it.