Research Paper on:
Middle East and Hegemonic Stability Theory

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
breaking apart" (The Fight for Peace: A Look at the Cold War), can readily be applied to the manner by which the middle east has taken such a formidable stance  within the political world. What is at the heart of Middle Eastern hegemony, and why is it important to understand the phenomenon of associated global conflict? These are  two immensely important questions that share the same answer. At the core of global strife are the following explosive issues: nuclear power and  economic development; from these two considerations grow all other reasons that instigate war between world countries, such as it being a matter of foreign policy; the concept that a free  world is a safer world; the spread of democracy; to protect ones own interests; and to create allies. All these reasons for global conflict may appear worthy, but they  are really just a means by which to gain and maintain hegemonic power. One might readily argue, however, that the Middle East asserts its hegemony in the most socially,  economically and politically damaging ways as possible, representing the cyclical composition of its existence. "Advocates of long cycles argue that history is circular, not linear. The theory suggests  that great power wars occur every hundred or so years. These wars usually result in the appearance of a hegemonic power that maintains international stability for several years.  Then, other powers rise up to challenge the leading country, while that country stagnates internally. This leads to an instability that results in another great power war. As  a result, stable situations are upset by, the differential or uneven growth of power among states. The concept of long cycles simply explains the long postwar peace as a