The United States, by pulling together a coalition sanctioned by the United Nations and acting in support of U.N. resolutions, is prompting a renewal of international institutions. In a region suspicious of multilateralism, where neither the United Nations nor the Arab League can claim strong adherents, this strange war coalition may be the prime vehicle of change. Cooperative problem-solving would be a welcome new habit and the political elites may come to realize that they cannot manage many of their challenges in any other way. The war has provided a rare example of coalition politics working in this troubled region. There is evidence, however nuanced, of movement in Israel, Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia concerning regional and international relations.
Palestinian representation is manageable if the possibility of real progress is evident.
It is a stumbling block only when there is no desire for basic movement. But all such hopeful musings must be placed in the context of the enduring political, economic, and social inequalities and insecurities. Democratization has become a favored standard for appraising this new order. Yet the Middle East is not likely to democratize. More probable is the increase of new relationships within the region and beyond.