Gaza and the crisis of global order: a reading from the world-system and the structural role of Middle Eastern powers

Abstract

This article interprets the war in Gaza not as a bilateral conflict but as a structural manifestation of a broader world-system crisis. Drawing on Wallerstein, it conceptualizes Israel as a colonial enclave and as a key geopolitical device sustaining Western hegemony in the Middle East. The analysis contrasts the differentiated responses of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iran, which respectively embody pragmatic alignment, diplomatic mediation, and overt counter-hegemonic resistance. The study concludes that the current escalation functions as a catalyst for regional reconfiguration and reveals the erosion of Western dominance alongside expanding margins of autonomy for Middle Eastern powers.