Abstract:

Beset with fiscal constraints and political deadlocks, the US is widely thought to be in decline in the Middle East.  Yet American security interests remain important, particularly as the region is wracked by political and social turmoil.  The workshop participants will consider the ethical, legal and practical aspects–positive and negative–of new forms and applications of  “hard power” such as “drones,” renditions, torture, and targeted killings, as an alternative to traditional ways of dealing with threats to American interests.   But do these new types of hard power weaken America’s “soft power” or influence in the region and the ability to promote conflict resolution and mitigate the turmoil of the Arab uprisings? If so, how does the possible decline of American “soft power” affect its remaining traditional allies in the region?  Does it provide openings for other outside powers like China to challenge America’s traditional domination of the region?

A Colloquium organized by the Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore