Middle East

What factors made Arab states vulnerable to popular anger?

Neoliberalism, Human Rights Revolution, State Fragility, Demographic Youth Bulge, Rising Food Prices.

What does the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) promote?

Political, economic, and security cooperation among its member states.

Why did the two-state solution fail between Israel and Palestine?

Continued Israeli settlements, violence from Hamas and Israeli crackdowns, control asymmetry, and internal Palestinian divisions.

What were the seven goals of the United States in the Middle East during the Cold War?

Prevent Soviet expansion, ensure Western access to oil, promote peaceful conflict resolution, foster regional balance, support pro-Western states, preserve Israel’s territorial integrity, and protect strategic sea lanes.

What was the political situation in Syria before the civil war?

A dictatorship under Assad with no real freedom, widespread corruption, and high unemployment.

What is the Polisario Movement?

A group seeking independence for Western Sahara, declared the SADR and had tensions with Morocco.

What was the outcome of the civil war and Gaddafi's removal in Libya?

Libya fell into chaos post-Gaddafi, with rival governments, militias fighting, and foreign powers backing different sides.

Which colonial powers controlled Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria?

Libya was controlled by Italy; Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco were controlled by France; Spain controlled parts of northern Morocco.

What divisions exist within Iranian politics?

Reformists who want openness and improved relations with the West; Conservatives who favor strict Islamic rule; IRGC supporting the conservative system.

Who were the participants in the invasion of Egypt in 1956?

Israel, Britain, and France invaded Egypt after Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal.

Who is Sayyid Qutb?

An Egyptian Islamist thinker whose writings inspired groups like al-Qaeda.

What was the impact of the U.S. invasion on Sunnis and Shia in Iraq?

Power shifted to Shia parties, leading to sectarian violence and Sunni exclusion from politics.

What were the outcomes of neoliberal policies in the Middle East?

Cuts to subsidies, privatization, weakened public services, and erosion of public trust.

What are the components of the Iranian military forces?

Regular Army, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Basij Force, and Quds Force.

What percentage of the population in Palestine were Jews at the end of the nineteenth century?

Less than 1%.

What is the relationship between Ba’athists and ISIS in Iraq?

Some Ba’athist officers joined ISIS initially but ideology differences led to conflict.

Why was Turkey strategically important for NATO after WWII?

It borders the Soviet Union and controls the Bosporus Strait.

What do John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt argue about U.S. relations with Israel?

They argue that the support is too strong and harms U.S. interests driven by domestic politics.

Which uprisings in the Middle East became sectarianized?

Syria and Bahrain; Assad framed Sunni protesters as extremists and Bahrain's monarchy framed Shi’a protests as Iranian-backed.

What percentage of the Egyptian economy is controlled by the military?

Between 20% and 40%.