Strategic Turning of US Foreign Policy in Southwest Asia from Hegemony to Balance: A Comparative Study of Syria and Bahrain (2018-2010)

Following the aftermath of the Middle East Democratic transformation after 2010, the United States faced a new challenge as a major player in this strategic area. The American order in the region has been challenged following these protests, and some US allies in a region where non-democratic regimes have failed. American foreign policy analysts have expressed a variety of views on how the country faced a wave of democratization in the region, including a range of optimistic views (claiming US support for democracy), pessimistic (based on US opposition to democracy in the region). What has been questioned in this research is how can we get an accurate analysis of the American standard of conduct towards democracy in the region? In response, it was hypothesized that the United States' dual standards of behavior in the countries of the region are rooted in a policy of strategic balance, and the most striking feature of this strategy can be seen in Syria and Bahrain. The findings show that, on the Security Council and beyond, the United States has used its diplomatic, financial and military tools to weaken Syria, while at the same time it has strengthened the Bahraini government with the same tools. In addition to the situation in both countries, maintaining the balance of power in the entire region was also sought by the United States, which has been pursued with the support of Israel and Saudi Arabia against the deterrence of Iran and Russia in the region.