Regional Powers and International Intelligence Competition in the Restructuring of Middle Eastern Power Dynamics and Political Coups during the Cold War (1955–1991): A Historical Analysis

Abstract

This study examines the role of regional powers and international intelligence rivalry in reshaping the balance of power in the Middle East through political coups during the Cold War period (1955–1991). It aims to analyze the interaction between domestic factors within Middle Eastern states and external intelligence interventions by major powers, highlighting how military coups were employed as instruments for redistributing regional and international influence. The study adopts a historical-analytical and comparative approach, focusing on selected case studies such as Iran, Syria, and Iraq to identify patterns of intelligence involvement and their impact on political stability and state-building processes. The study concludes that political coups in the Middle East were not solely the result of internal dynamics, but rather the outcome of a complex interaction between international rivalry and regional ambitions, contributing to prolonged political instability and obstructing sustainable state development throughout the Cold War era.