Hybrid Partnerships in Middle East Turbulence

This chapter analyses the turbulence in the Middle East by examining the nature of hybrid partnerships and the role they play. By hybrid partnerships we mean the cooperative arrangements that governmental and non-governmental actors establish in order to pursue their political goals. These hybrid relationships may be overt or covert, may use peaceful or violent means, may be successful or failing. While other chapters in this volume also look at these new political forms, the specific contribution of this chapter lies in its comparative angle. We argue that forms of hybrid politics are not unique to the Middle East. They represent a key characteristic of contemporary global governance. The co-existence of state and non-state actors is becoming a central feature of global governance. In a similar vein, in the Middle East, non-state actors are becoming increasingly influential in the current dynamics and future trends in the region. The interpretative approach of this chapter remains strongly anchored to the wider transformation occurring in the international system. In order to correctly capture the political nature of contemporary Middle East dynamics, we need to focus on non-state actors both as independent actors and as actors operating through hybrid partnerships with regional and international powers. The chapter begin with an examination of the transformation of the international system from Westphalia to global governance. It then analyse the role played by transnational non-governmental actors in this process, paying special attention to the rise of hybrid partnerships and their impact on global politics. In the second part, the framework of hybrid partnerships is used to compare the case of the Middle East with the global trend, in order to identify both similarities and differences. In this w