1) The document discusses the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East region, analyzing various countries and subregions. 2) It notes that many states in the region lack national loyalty and that North Africa and Southern Europe are becoming more interconnected through new gas pipelines. 3) The document also analyzes how different countries are positioning themselves geopolitically, such as Egypt putting itself on the global stage and Iran deriving benefits from multiple powers.

1. The Second WorldParag Khanna Part 4: In Search of the Middle East Erica Allen

2. The Shattered Belt The MaghrebEurope’s Southern Shore The Arab nation has its first chance to determine its ‘natural’ order Arabism and Islamism-the faces of globalization in this region Few states have a national loyalty Has the natural resources, money, labor, and talent to develop itself North Africa and southern Europe are becoming closer due to new natural gas pipelines Europe is the largest aid donor and importer of food in Africa Maghreb farmers ‘dream not of pacts and treaties, but of pumps and tractors’ Morocco has achieved a progressive tradeoff between human rights and counterterrorism Quality of public schools has fallen while Islamic social networks provide food, shelter, and spiritual fulfillment but also neglect to teach marketable skills

4. China is predicted to replace the US as Egypt’s top trading partner

5. Europe's influence in Egypt may eventually pass the U.S. as well

6. Egypt has put itself in the geopolitical marketplace

7. People from Cairo believe Cairo and Egypt are the same

9. Gulf Streams Conclusion The Persian gulf will still provide 40% of the total energy supply well into the future The gulf Cooperation Council's internal animosities opened a window for the U.S. to renew massive conventional arms sales and heavy military force on the promise to protect the Gulf’s smaller sheikhdoms from Saudi Arabia and Iran Qatar controlling nearly eternal supply of natural gas serves as the headquarters of America’s central command and abolished its own military forces emphasizing its reliance on the United Sates The Arab world knows how central it is to the future success/failure of globalization geographically and geologically. Whether Arabism or Islamism prevails, America loses because Both seek to solve problems with their own means on their own terms America is unlikely to get its way without the support of one or the other of its superpower counterparts

10. Sources Khanna, Parag. "Part IV: In Search of the "Middle East"" The Second World: How Emerging Powers Are Redefining Global Competition in the Twenty-first Century. New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2009. Print.