Title: How did the Cold War affect the Middle East?
Headings: How did the Cold War affect the Middle East?
How did the Cold War affect the Middle East?
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Content: They use the Realist logic of zero sum to explain international relations. This means that if one power gains, then the other automatically loses. This logic fuelled the competition for the powers to actively try to shift the balance of power in their favour through proxy wars in theatres around the world. Secondly, the technological development of nuclear weapons led to a nuclear arms race, a competition for nuclear weapon superiority. The threat of nuclear war dramatically escalated tension and suspicion between the nations. Lastly, there was an ideological confrontation between capitalism and communism as both sides tried to advance their economic and social models as the better way of life (Sayigh, Shlaim 2003, p.1). Each superpower perceived their respective ideologies as progressive and modern and therefore incompatible and unable coexist. These features characterize the Cold War and to understand the international relations of the Middle East during the Cold War era it is imperative to study the relationship between the external actors and the local agents (Sayigh, Shlaim 2003, p.2). In the case of the Suez crisis, the United States and the Soviet Union had a vested interest in the outcome of the crisis and naturally aimed to determine it in their favour. However, the role of local and regional agents did not always correspond with the agenda of the superpowers as was the case with Nasser.