In this paper, we analyze how China, as a rising world power, increases its authority for economic sanctions in the Middle East and how that affects the current negotiations between the United States, Arab countries and Israel.
We will look into the deals and consensus that have been achieved between western countries and Middle Eastern ones, and what the interests for the United States are in order for it to invest its resources in foreign intervention in that area. At the same time, we will attempt to see how China is starting to intervene and what incentives China has for intervention or lack thereof, and how those incentives differ from the western incentives.
Finally, we will look into how important issues such as nuclear terrorism, oil production and price-fixing, Zionism and Islamic states can be influenced by Chinese-USA competition for natural resources and political support, which problems are being worsened and which ones are being solved by the rise of China as an economic and political partner for Middle Eastern countries.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. OPEC
3. An Islamic State
4. Democracy for all
5. China is not a Democracy
6. Israel
7. How China is intervening
8. Conclusion and Discussion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines how the rise of China as a global economic power influences the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and alters the traditional dynamics of foreign intervention, specifically concerning economic sanctions and the strategic interests of the United States.
- The impact of Chinese-US competition on Middle Eastern political stability.
- The role of oil reserves and price-fixing strategies in regional conflicts.
- The effectiveness and limitations of economic sanctions in the Middle East.
- The strategic importance of Israel and its influence on regional power balances.
- The divergence between western democratic capitalist models and China's strategic governance approach.
Excerpt from the Book
HOW CHINA IS INTERVENING
Since China is a rising world power, it is starting to be a major player in the international business and economic sectors. Because of the size of the Chinese economy and its centralized control, it is tough for other countries to impose economic sanctions on the nation. That is the reason why the United States does not apply more sanctions on the Chinese economy: it would hurt the American economy too much, and USA would lose competitiveness in the international economy. For example, Washington “threats were not only ineffective but also counterproductive” when trying to pressure China to stop its human rights violations.
Based on the increased power that China has gained, it is now taking advantage of international conflicts (like the ones created in the Middle East) to receive preferential treatment in performing business with those Arab countries. Iran, for example, is economically sanctioned by the United Nations, so China has to comply. However, the United States imposes more sanctions on top of what the United Nations’ regulations state, so China can compete against the US as a partner for Iran, and gain some competitiveness for its economy at the expense of the United States.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter establishes the historical context of the Middle East as a battleground for resources and outlines the US strategy of maintaining divisions among Arab states to prevent the monopolization of oil.
OPEC: This section explains the origins and function of OPEC as an oil cartel designed to counter the oligopolistic practices of multinational extraction corporations.
An Islamic State: This chapter analyzes how religion and nationalism are used as political tools to foster unity and increase oil prices, despite the general ineffectiveness of OPEC quotas.
Democracy for all: This section explores the democratic peace theory and argues that western-style democratic capitalism can incentivize the divergence between rich and poor nations through lack of technology transfer.
China is not a Democracy: This chapter contrasts the western democratic model with China's strategic approach to governance, highlighting why China avoids adopting a system susceptible to external media manipulation.
Israel: This chapter discusses how Israel serves as a strategic ally for the US, facilitating a persistent state of conflict that justifies foreign intervention and oil market control.
How China is intervening: This section details how China leverages its economic size to circumvent US sanctions and establish itself as a primary trade partner in the Middle East, particularly with sanctioned nations like Iran.
Conclusion and Discussion: The final chapter concludes that China’s emergence as an alternative economic partner diminishes the effectiveness of US sanctions and may force a shift in the global balance of power.
Keywords
China, Middle East, United States, foreign intervention, economic policy, nuclear terrorism, Zionism, Islamic states, OPEC, democracy, nationalism, natural resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper primarily investigates how China’s rise as a global power impacts the balance of power in the Middle East, specifically regarding foreign policy, economic sanctions, and the rivalry with US strategic interests.
What are the main thematic areas covered in the study?
Key themes include oil geopolitics, the role of international organizations like OPEC, the effectiveness of economic sanctions, and the clash between different systems of governance (democratic capitalism vs. strategic state governance).
What is the primary research objective?
The objective is to analyze the incentives for Chinese intervention in the Middle East and to determine how this intervention affects current negotiations and the geopolitical influence of the United States in the region.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The study employs a qualitative geopolitical analysis, utilizing comparative policy evaluation and existing international relations theories to examine state behavior and power dynamics.
What topics are explored in the main body?
The main body treats the history of oil control, the strategic usage of "divide and rule" policies, the internal contradictions of OPEC, and the geopolitical significance of Iran and Israel.
Which keywords best describe this publication?
The work is characterized by terms such as foreign intervention, economic policy, natural resources, nuclear terrorism, nationalism, and geopolitical power shift.
How does China benefit from its neutral stance in Middle Eastern conflicts?
By remaining neutral, China can provide an alternative trade route and economic partnership for Middle Eastern nations, thereby undermining the effectiveness of Western economic sanctions.
Why does the author argue that the US pushes for democratic values?
The author argues that the US promotes democratic capitalism because it reinforces an economic system where already wealthy nations maintain dominance and prevent effective technology transfer to developing states.
What risks does the author associate with the Iranian nuclear program?
The author highlights the threat of nuclear terrorism, suggesting that US pressure may drive Iran toward greater reliance on China, potentially allowing their nuclear enrichment program to continue unimpeded.
- Citar trabajo
- Lucas Agudiez Roitman (Autor), Anshan Li (Coautor), Suolao Wang (Coautor), 2014, Chinese intervention in the Middle East and how it could shift the Balance of Power, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/354908
