At a panel discussion during the Al Jazeera Forum in Doha, Ahmed Al-Zandani, an assistant professor at Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College, stated that Israel occupies the center of the current international order, while Arab states remain on its periphery. He argued that Arab nations have little influence over global developments, describing their policies as reactive rather than proactive and their position as subordinate.
Al-Zandani explained that the existing global structure emerged after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, when Arab regions became colonies. He said the United Kingdom played a decisive role in shaping this order by sending experts to study the region’s geography and ethnicity, leaving a lasting impact on Middle Eastern politics and structures.
According to Al-Zandani, this historical legacy continues to distance the Arab world from the core of global decision-making, reinforcing its marginal position in international affairs.