International Law, Conflict and Stability in the Gulf and the Mediterranean

Abstract

The stability of states in the Middle East and North Africa is threatened both by domestic unrest and interstate conflict. Conversely, one of the techniques that states in the region use to combat their inherent instabilities is to exploit interstate tensions so as to unify domestic public opinion. A common arena for this type of behaviour, particularly for littoral states, is in the maritime areas associated with the states concerned — not least, no doubt, because it avoids recourse to direct threats to national sovereignty. As a result, it has become common practice to exploit the opportunities inherent in international law to attempt to gain national advantage, thus avoiding the use of military force until all other avenues have been exhausted.