This book sets out to identify the challenges to western security emerging from the Mediterranean area. Three kinds of challenges are taken into consideration by the contributors: first, Arab political and institutional concerns on which western political responses have to be based; second, economic and social challenges; and third, the military dimension of security in the area and the low-level terrorist violence. Though the risks springing from Islam, terrorism and military factors are pointed out by the authors, they emphasise the necessity to reinforce economic and social co-operation and provide international relations in the area with some degree of framework and political co-operation.