With theoretically-rich contributions from an international group of political scientists, historians, and economists, this volume addresses the puzzle of why the Middle East has produced no single dominant and acknowledged regional power, despite contenders such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel, and Turkey. Rich, theoretically-engaged case study chapters address a gap in the vibrant international academic discussion on the role of (new) regional powers in global politics. Fürtig offers powerful insights into both the unique nature of the Middle East region, with its dispersed power structures and competing centers, and probable new power constellations.

Introduction : the concept of regional power as applied to the Middle East / Martin Beck -- Iran : winner or looser of the "Arab Spring"? / Henner Fürtig -- What determines Iranian power? / Arshin Adib-Moghaddam -- Post-Mubarak Egypt : visions and prospects for a new regional leadership role / Annette Ranko and Elizabeth Monier -- Egypt : the "regional reference" in the Middle East / Mustafa El Labbad -- Before the Arab Revolt and after : Turkey's transformed regional power status in the Middle East / Andre Bank and Roy Karadag -- Turkey's "return" to the Middle East / Meliha Benli Altunisik -- Israel : an underestimated player in the new "Middle East game" / Robert Kappel -- Israel as a regional power : prospects and problems / Mark A. Heller -- Saudi Arabia : a conservative p(l)ayer on the retreat? / Thomas Richter -- Saudi Arabia and the Arab Spring : opportunities and challenges of security / Saud Al Tamamy -- Conclusion : prospects for new regional powers in the Middle East / Henner Fürtig.