Transformations of Middle East geopolitics and their impact on regional coalition building

This study aims to analyze the effects of three main geopolitical transformations that occurred in the Middle East as a region and their impact on the process of regional coalition building. The study analyzes the geopolitical impact of the Arab Spring, transformation in energy sector and dominance vacuums and power projections of regional actors. Then it analyzed the current web of coalitions and their different axes, and the impact of the geopolitical transformation on them, as observed in affects such as the liquidation of coalition and the centrality of Islam and its interpretations in regard to its role in public spheres and its relation to state, and the absence of an ideological umbrella for coalitions in the region. Then the study followed the model of Jeremy Ghez in categorizing coalition as Tactical, Historical and Natural, and applied this model on the current situation in the region, as we used a qualitative approach to measure the main pillars of the political culture of the region, through polls and surveys. The study concluded that there is a certain degree of commonalties in political culture, constructed ideas and shared values concerning main issues like democracy, good governance and stance from dictatorship, as people also looked up to the Turkish model of conservative democracy for imitation. The study concluded with a normative approach towards building natural coalitions in the Middle East and its requirements.