ABSTRACT
The conclusion summarizes the findings of our book. In particular, it emphasizes the evolution of the periphery doctrine, from its birth in the late fifties to its renaissance following the Arab revolutions. The doctrine reflects the Israeli strategic culture as it underlines the country’s distrust for international cooperation and its preference for clandestine diplomacy. At the same time, the secrecy that surrounds this policy puts into question the initial quest of normalization that Israeli founders undertook. If diplomacy remains a clandestine endeavor, how could it serve the interests of a State that is so eager to support its international legitimacy? The conclusion offers then some ideas about a question worth considering, not only for scholars but for practitioners of international affairs as well.
