Gulf Diplomatic Mediation in the Political Crisis Management

As the turmoil across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) enters its fifth year, the role of Gulf countries in influencing the processes of change in the MENA region has evolved substantially. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, and Qatar have all developed assertive regional policies towards states in political transition and supported fellow monarchical regimes in Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, and Morocco. These policies have been crafted against the backdrop of rising uncertainty about the future role of the United States in the Middle East as the Obama administration „pivots toward Asia“, and deeper shifts in the structure and balance of geo-economic power. New approaches to issues of global governance are altering the parameters of engagement and multilateral cooperation as Gulf actors become further embedded in inter-governmental frameworks.