G8 T7 L3

Democratic Governments: Presidential, Parliamentary

Strongest Democracies: Cyprus, Israel

Cyprus: Presidential Democracy

Israel: Parliamentary Democracy → President (Symbolic Leader), Prime Minister

Flawed democracy: A system in which real elections occur, but problems within the system hold democracy back

TĂĽrkiye:

  • Wanted Secular (Nonreligious) Government
  • Military Supported → 3 Successful Coups
  • Erdogan is in power for 20 years
  • Limited Freedom
  • Parliamentary → President (Gave him more power)

Iraq:

  • 2003 Second Gulf War
  • Unstable Government
  • Shia Majority → Led the Government
  • Sunni Arabs and Kurds discriminated
  • IS invaded Iraq until 2017

Lebanon:

  • Gained independence from France in 1946
  • Christians were the largest group
  • Overtime, Muslims became the largest group
    • Refugees from Palestine
  • 1975: Civil War broke out
  • 1976: Syria invaded Lebanon (To Support the Government in Lebanon, Civil War almost Spilled into Syria)
  • 1982: Israel invaded Lebanon (Palestinians in Lebanon carried Terrorist Attacks against Israel)
  • 1990: Civil War ended with power-sharing agreements
  • Constitution:
    • President → Christian
    • Prime Minister → Sunni Muslim
    • Head of Parliament → Shia Muslim
    • Specific Seats in parliament for each religion

Monarchies: Constitutional Monarchies, Absolute Monarchies

Constitutional Monarchies:

  • Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain
  • The Monarch & Parliament share powers
    • Power: Monarch > Parliament
    • Not Democracies
  • Kuwait has strengthened its democracy

Absolute Monarchies

  • Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, and Oman
  • Monarch has total control
  • Citizens can’t participate in the government
  • Saudi Arabia:
    • Authoritarian System:
    • No Written Constitution
    • No National Elections
    • King chooses members of the Consultative Council
    • 150 Members, 4 Years
    • 2013: 30 Woman chosen

Theocarcy: Government run by religious leaders

  • Iran:
    • Shah → Authoritarian Leader with West, Sold West Iranian Oil
    • 1960s: Ruhollah Khomeini become a leading critic of the government
    • 1978: Revolution Broke Out:
    • Some wanted a Western Democracy
    • Some wanted religious rule (Theocracy)
    • The Shah fled and the country collapsed
    • 1979: Khomeini created the Islamic Republic of Iran (Theocracy)
    • Supreme Leader → The head of the Supreme Government & Shia Leader
    • Supreme Leader chooses a council of religious leaders who appoint the next Supreme Leader
    • Elects a president and parliament but religious leaders choose who is the candidate
    • Parliaments make laws but religious leaders can veto
    • Citizens have few rights