THE INTERNATIONAL POLITICS OF THE RED SEA Anoushiravan Ehteshami and Emma C. Murphy The International Politics of the Red Sea This pioneering book is the first comprehensive study of the Red Sea as a sub- region of the international system in its own right. Examining the international politics of the Red Sea region from the Cold War to the present day, it argues that the Red Sea area demonstrates the characteristics of a sub-regional system, given its increasing economic and social interdependence, greater regional integration, and flows of resources across it. It details how stronger regional powers – Egypt, Israel and Saudi Arabia – which co-habit the sub-region with much weaker, vul- nerable and fragile states, are seeking to stamp their own authority on this dynamic sub-region. They have attempted to do so, the authors show, through extension of their military and economic influence wherever possible, while also forging regional partnerships aimed at protecting their interests or to fend off the possible encroachment of others. The International Politics of the Red Sea discusses in great detail the security and military dynamics of the sub-region; the land and maritime borders; as well as economic issues, including trade, migration, capital flows and transport. It cov- ers developments across the Red Sea and also within all the states of this newly- forming sub-region. Anoushiravan Ehteshami is Dean of Internationalisation and Professor of International Relations at Durham University, UK. He was the founding Head of the School of Government and International Affairs at Durham, and also the Vice- President of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies. Emma C. Murphy is Professor of Political Economy in the School of Government and International Affairs at Durham University, UK. She is co-editor of Mediterranean Politics journal. Durham Modern Middle East and Islamic World Series Series Editor: Anoushiravan Ehteshami, University of Durham, UK 1. Economic Development in 8. Oman: The Islamic Democratic Saudi Arabia Tradition Rodney Wilson, with Abdullah Hussein Ghubash Al-Salamah, Monica Malik and Ahmed Al-Rajhi 9. The Secret Israeli–Palestinian Negotiations in Oslo 2. Islam Encountering Their success and why the Globalisation process ultimately failed Edited by Ali Mohammadi Sven Behrendt 3. China’s Relations with Arabia 10. Globalization and Geopolitics and the Gulf, 1949–1999 in the Middle East Mohamed Bin Huwaidin Old games, new rules Anoushiravan Ehteshami 4. Good Governance in the Middle East Oil Monarchies 11. Iran–Europe Relations Edited by Tom Pierre Najem and Challenges and Martin Hetherington opportunities Seyyed Hossein Mousavian 5. The Middle East’s Relations with Asia and Russia 12. Islands and International Edited by Hannah Carter and Politics in the Persian Gulf Anoushiravan Ehteshami The Abu Musa and Tunbs in strategic perspective 6. Israeli Politics and the Middle Kourosh Ahmadi East Peace Process, 1988–2002 Hassan A. Barari 13. Monetary Union in the Gulf Prospects for a single currency 7. The Communist Movement in in the Arabian Peninsula the Arab World Emilie Rutledge Tareq Y. Ismael 14. Contested Sudan 18. Iraq, Democracy and the The political economy of war Future of the Muslim World and reconstruction Edited by Ali Paya and John Ibrahim Elnur Esposito 15. Palestinian Politics and Middle 19. Islamic Entrepreneurship East Peace Process Rasem N. Kayed and M. Kabir Consensus and competition in Hassan the Palestinian Negotiation Team Ghassan Khatib 20. Iran and the International System 16. Islam in the Eyes of the West Edited by Anoushiravan Images and realities in an age Ehteshami and Reza Molavi of terror Edited by Tareq Y. Ismael and 21. The International Politics of Andrew Rippin the Red Sea Anoushiravan Ehteshami and 17. Islamist Extremism in Emma C. Murphy Kuwait From the Muslim Brotherhood to 22. Palestinian Christians in Israel Al-Qaeda and other Islamist State attitudes towards political groups non-Muslims in a Jewish state Falah Abdullah al-Mdaires Una McGahern The International Politics of the Red Sea Anoushiravan Ehteshami and Emma C. Murphy This edition published 2011 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2011 Anoushiravan Ehteshami and Emma C. Murphy The right of Anoushiravan Ehteshami and Emma C. Murphy to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog record has been requested for this book ISBN 978–0–415–67705–9 (hbk) ISBN 978–0–203–80875–7 (ebk) Typeset in Times New Roman by Book Now Ltd, London To Ardeshir and Kasra Contents List of tables xi Acknowledgements xiii List of abbreviations xv Introduction 1 1 Weakness and instability: national politics and their sub-regional impact 23 2 International politics of the Red Sea in the Cold War era 43 3 Red Sea sub-regional developments in the post-Cold War era 59 4 Security, militarisation and arms flows 81 5 Land boundaries, maritime borders and territorial issues 107 6 The economics of the Red Sea: trade, migration and capital flows 131 7 Red Sea networks: regional and international transport 163 Conclusion: regionalising the Red Sea 185 Notes 201 Select bibliography 219 Index 227