SECURITY PERCEPTION IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE IMPACT OF INTERNAL RISK FACTORS

Authors : Gamze Güngörmüş KONA

Pages : 113-139

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Publication Date : 2004-11-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The Middle East geography represents a kind of rather fragile and complicated region in terms of various risk factors which threathen security. There have been several internal and external elements which lead the appearance of those risk factors, reinforce them and threathen national security of the Middle Eastern states. When the problems that the Middle Eastern states have faced are analysed, it can be determined that the internal risk factors and internal dynamics in the region have been much more effective on security and threat perception than the impact of external risk factors. Parallel to the mentioned input, in this article; the internal risk factors that cause discomfort in national security policies of the Middle Eastern states, make them extremely sensitive in security matters and direct them to follow defense-oriented foreign policy; have been determined and examined
Keywords : Middle East, risk factors, religious and ethnic diversity, oil and water, political culture and leaders