Security in the Persian Gulf. Vol. I: Domestic Political Factors; The Security of the Persian Gulf; Security in the Persian Gulf. Vol. II: Sources of Inter-Conflict
The Institute for Strategic Studies books, which are the first two volumes in a projected series of four short studies on security in the Gulf, provide essential and up-to-date background material. Chubin and his associates describe the domestic structures of regional states and the challenges they face; Arnold Hottinger, the most provocative and least cautious of the contributors, sees a very troubled future for Saudi Arabia. Robert Litwak, in his summaries of the main boundary and other disputes within the area, gives the present state of play on issues which are seen as vital by the local governments and which color their views on regional security and the policies of outside powers. The Amirsadeghi volume deals competently with several important aspects of security-e.g., the strategic balance, relations with the superpowers, arms transfers, and the respective roles of Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, taking account of the sea changes brought about by the Iranian Revolution.
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