Suchergebnisse

AbstractThis paper examines the Emirati attempts to revolutionize how urban development is conceptualized and operationalized through its Masdar City project. It argues that although incomplete, the city has become an ecologically friendly space that facilitates technological, economic, social, and educational development. Economic, carbon, and policy issues, however, have affected the completion and full functioning of the City. As a possible prototype for eco‐cities, location, space, and oil influence distinguish the United Arab Emirates from a lot of countries. Masdar City's structural design, solar energy techniques, and transportation plans, however, are features that can be modeled to build other eco‐cities. The United Arab Emirates can therefore use this venture as a soft power tool as Masdar City's appeal makes it more culturally, technologically, and environmentally attractive to the rest of the world.

AbstractThe U.S.–Saudi relationship is often seen as an oxymoron. These allies have differed in their foreign policy interests — varied in the need, one for the other — but never severed ties. When the 9/11 attacks are added to the mix, questions are raised about why these ambivalent allies continue to tolerate each other. This study argues that although the United States is the preponderant power, Saudi Arabia has primacy in the energy market. This has caused both countries to remain allies through the different oil crises, the 9/11 attacks, and in spite of the Arab‐Israeli conflict. This contravenes the hegemonic stability theory about alliance formation and duration.Saudi Arabia's roles in the 1973, 1979, 2008, and 2012–2015 oil crises all demonstrate its ability and willingness to act independently of the United States. The fact that it can do this and still maintain its strategic partnership with the United States is incredulous. This invites a revision of the hegemonic stability theory since strong and persistent defection from the hegemon's wishes should catalyze some comparable form of punishment or a severance of the relationship.