ABSTRACT
L. Carl Brown's often quoted description of the Middle Eastern international subsystem revolves about analysis of the obstacles to regional hegemony. Alternative versions of the Middle East subsystem support Brown's judgment, but they also identify the bases for Israel's hegemonic aspirations. Prior to 1985, water resources did not appear as a constraint on Israel's national development. Although no Middle East state seems likely to attain regional hegemony in the traditional sense, the regional international system is conducive to aspirations of hegemony on the part of Israel. Discussion there envisions regional hegemony in terms of dominance along several dimensions, with minimal attention to assessing the relative importance of each. To exercise hegemony Israel must remain dominant within the Middle East Core, while deflecting threats from states in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf subregions. Palestinian confederation, the option supported by Israel's Labor Party. Continuing military relations with the United States guaranteed Israel's technological superiority.
