The Middle East Torn Between Rival Choices: Islamism, International Security and Democratic Peace

Abstract

This chapter aims to place the events of the Arab Spring in the debate on regional and international security. It does this equally in terms of desecuritizing and resecuritizing but it operates on grounds different from those of the prevailing approach of security, as it is critical of the tendency to securitize the region of the Middle East, of the narrowing of security and of restricting inherent or perceived threats within a narrative confined to countering terrorism. In the ensuing introductory section, I shall outline the overall context in which the study of Islamism and international security is placed and also elaborate on the approach employed.