Abstract
In the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, the U.S. postwar agenda entails some predictable elements of the Gulf area's changed political landscape. While pressure on the United States to address the problems which distributed the status-quo ante will be undeniably high, a drastic departure from conventional policy postures does not seem in the offing. In addition, the revival of Pax Americana is likely to bring along new difficulties at a time when the United States is in a state of relative economic decline. New security arrangements are certain to develop and a new balance of power will determine the configuration of the forces in the area. The far-reaching implications of the Persian Gulf crisis should be understood in the context of a "new world order," an order which looms at this juncture only partially novel and visible.