Abstract: Journal of Global Perspectives on Society, Culture, and Development

Abstract:
This article analyzes the historical evolution, contemporary challenges, and prospects for cooperation in the Per sian Gulf. It highlights the region’s enduring strategic importance, shaped by trade networks, imperial rivalries, colonial intervention, and the rise of hydrocarbon economies. Today, geopolitical tensions—particularly between Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council states—alongside economic dependence on oil, environmental stress, and security risks in the Strait of Hormuz, pose significant challenges. The article argues that deeper economic integra tion, maritime security coordination, environmental cooperation, and joint energy transition strategies can foster stability and sustainable development. Effective institutional frameworks and confidence-building measures are essential to transform the Gulf from a zone of rivalry into one of regional cooperation.