Forces Shaping the Middle East

Overview of the Modern Middle East

  • Focus: The Middle East in the last 100 years.
  • Impact: Influenced by outside forces.

Diversity of the Middle East

  • Languages:
    • Arabic
    • Turkish
    • Persian (Farsi)
    • Hebrew or Yiddish
    • Kurdish
    • Armenian
  • Religions:
    • Islam
    • Christianity
    • Judaism
  • Culturally rich and diverse.

Colonial and Imperialistic Impact

  • Britain and France controlled much of the Middle East in the early 20th century.
  • Independence:
    • Iraq: 1932
    • Lebanon
    • Syria
  • Border Issues:
    • Drawn by Britain and France with little regard for ethnic groups.
    • Led to conflicts due to disregard for ethnic and cultural differences.
  • Colonial Legacy:
    • Arab countries remained economically dependent on the West.
    • Dependent on exports like oil.
    • Borders created ethnic and geographical disputes.

Oil in the Middle East

  • Economic weapon: Oil is a major resource.
  • OPEC: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries controls oil distribution.
  • Smaller populations (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait) benefited due to large oil deposits.
  • Larger populations (Turkey, Egypt) have small amounts of oil.
  • Demand for oil has generally increased over time.

Governments in the Middle East

  • Authoritarian governments: Leaders with total control.
  • Hereditary monarchies: Kings and queens (Saudi Arabia, Jordan).
  • Single-party systems: Iran, Syria.
  • Multiparty democratic systems: Israel, Turkey, post-Saddam Hussein Iraq.

Ethnic and Cultural Differences

  • Arab populations: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria.
  • Iran: Persian, different language (Farsi), distinct culture and history.
  • These differences have caused tensions.

Economic Disparities

  • Large gaps between the wealthy and the poor.
  • Royal families and allies benefited from oil wealth.
  • High rates of unemployment and corruption.

Water Scarcity

  • Water is a valuable commodity due to hot and dry climate.
  • Dam building has created tension by rerouting rivers and restricting access to water.

Islamic Revival

  • 1950s-1970s: Islamic revival in the Middle East.
  • Initial modernization and Western influence led to pushback from religious members.
  • 1970s: Shift to Islamic reform and rejection of Western ideals.
  • Impact varied by country:
    • Iran: Overthrow of the Shah in an Islamic revolution.
    • Algeria: Support for Sharia law.
    • Egypt: Terrorist acts justified in the name of religion against a corrupt government.

Women in the Middle East

  • Conditions vary by country.
  • Saudi Arabia and Iran: Women required to wear a hijab (headscarf).
  • Many women view the hijab as an expression of loyalty to Islamic values and modesty.

The Creation of Israel

  • Balfour Declaration: Proposal to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
  • Both Palestinians and Jews claimed a hereditary right to the land.
  • Tensions increased as Palestinians resisted giving up their land.
  • United Nations Partition (1947):
    • Divided Palestine into Jewish and Arab states (Israel and Palestine).
    • Recognized by the United States and the Soviet Union.
    • Palestinians were unhappy about giving up land.
  • Ongoing conflict: Israel surrounded by largely Arab countries with cultural and religious differences.

Future Lessons

  • Arab and Israeli conflict.
  • Iraq and the Gulf Wars.
  • Afghanistan's impact on the region.
  • The Arab Spring revolts (2010-2011).