Often called “The Crossroads of the World”, the Middle East stands between three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. Over thousands of years, migrating traders and conquerors crossed this region and spread the ideas, inventions, and achievements of many civilizations. It is an incredibly important part of the world with rich history, important resources, and deep religious and cultural traditions. However, in the past decades up to today, the Middle East has been consumed by conflict and chaos. Although different circumstances surround each issue, religion, terrorism, disputes over the control of natural resources, and weak governance primarily allow conflict to persist in the Middle East.
The numerous sects, who each find themselves better
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The two most important resources in this region are oil and water. The huge oil “deposits there and in the neighboring countries around the Persian Gulf (the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain) established these countries as some of the richest in the world” (Document F). Nevertheless, the countries who do not have as much access to oil are weak economically. Oil is the biggest export in the Middle East, and in a way, the amount of oil a country has determines how wealthy that country will be. Another component of oil is that countries and ethnic groups are disputing for the control of prices of this economic resource. It has gone to the far extent of foreign countries attempting to control the oil price and also the use of weapons for this (Document E). In addition, it is impossible for each country to have equal access to water due to the unbalanced distribution of these essential resources. As a result of this, these countries are fighting for as much control of water sources they can get. Radically, there are many countries in the Middle East that are striving to obtain as many natural resources to strengthen their economy and lifestyle, and it seems most obvious that the scarcity of these resources is a significant problem in the region
Edmund Burke once said “Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it.” Unfortunately, it seems that many people who have impacted the world have had a bad history teacher, as history continues to repeat itself to this day. One of the most prime examples of this is seen in the Middle East; where the Palestinian people are fighting against the Israelis over territory in which they both believe belongs to them. It has been a dispute which has resulted in loss of homes, loss of life and loss of money. However, this is nothing new. Eugene O’Neill’s statement, “There is no present and no future, only the past happening over and over again, now” applies strongly to the situation of the past 70 years in the
The Middle East was under the control of the Ottoman Empire for many centuries. It was declining but still in control until World War 1. World War 1 impacted the modern Middle East a tremendous amount. Who controlled the Middle East changed because of oil, resources, and the relationships between Israelis and Palestinians also changed drastically.
The Middle East is one of the birthplaces of human kind’s civilization. Since the Ancient Egypt, Sumer, the Arab Empire, Turkey Empire, or even to present day, the Middle East has always been a valuable strategic point for not only because of its geographic location but also it full of petroleum and nature gas. According the OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) that 66% of the global oil reserves are in the Middle East and only 6% in North America, this makes a lot of powerful countries want to share a pieces of the Middle East, Stephen mentions “Much of the world 's oil wealth exists along the Persian Gulf, with particularly large reserves in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait
The americans only started intervening with the middle east to stop communism, the U.S wanted to influence the middle eastern countries to be like the U.S later on the U.S wanted to get the oil the tons and tons of oil the middle east would be lots of help to the U.S .The U.S helped middle eastern countries grow more stronger by helping them which allowed the U.S to be allies with the Middle Eastern countries and receive cheaper oil .Now america's views and goals on the middle east have changed a lot because of the terrorist attacks that occur the U.S are focused on ending terrorism, the middle east has been changed from an area that helps the U.S with the oil and now their are tons of problems created by terrorism in the middle east. One
Firstly I would like to start off by say that there is a lot of debate around this topic about American interference and the Middle East is willingly trying to get the Americans to get involved in matters.
Afghanistan, a country landlocked in the middle east. A key trade route to and from Asia, It has been fought over since the first traders traveled from their homelands following the Silk Roads. There first were tribes that squabbled over petty territory and game but then they started to learn and grow and become more organized. Soon all of them became united under the teaching of the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th Century, but shortly after they became embroiled in war again after the death of the prophet and who should be the next heir of his position. Then the foreigners came, and realising the necessity for cohesion to protect themselves. A new sense of nationalism arose and they finally united under one barrier. But that banner was too good
Is peace possible in the Middle East? This question weighs heavy on the minds of many individuals and international players. Turmoil and conflict in the Middle East not only affects the people inhabiting this region, but also has global consequences. To answer this question, one must analyze the sources of conflict in the Middle East, historically, currently, and in the future. The limited amount of natural resources in this region has arguably served as the most major source of conflict in the Middle East. Other contributing factors to conflict are the leadership styles of the key players in positions of power, and religious strife. History is often the best indicator for the future. Unfortunately, the Middle East has had a history of
The Middle East is far from monumental and homogenous. Its differences have been a source of both strength and inspiration. The most visible, most pervasive, and the least recognized aspects of
Middle East considers one of the most studied areas in the world due to its rich history of politics, social, economic, and its culture and civilization. Its borders are still arguable geographically, generally in the west it starts from morocco until Iran in the east, however, many scholars don’t agree on including Turkey either as a Middle Eastern or as a European country (Milton-Edwards, 2006. P: 4). The origin of the name was invented by the colonies as a necessity to describe the place geographically, which was the era of bringing “Middle East” the language of academic writings and political scientists. Changes, innovations, and new ideologies create gaps between the transformations of any perspectives to a different
The sectarian divide is potentially explosive for political and religious reasons. Since the days of the Ottoman Empire, military and political power has been concentrated almost exclusively in the hands of the Sunni Arab minority. Sunni control over the levers of power and the distribution of the spoils of office has had predictable consequences—a simmering resentment on the part of the Shi’a that periodically erupts into open violent rebellion.
In the minds of people today, the Middle East is a country of terrorism, violence, and war. What they fail to realize is that there are reasons behind the instability in the region. There have been many factors that have contributed to the unsteadiness of the Middle East today. In addition to the collapse of the Gunpowder Empires, particularly the Ottoman Empire, the countries of the Middle East have also suffered from ongoing religious divisions, wars and revolts in the area, and western intervention, particularly in oil and arms.
Iran is the second most noticeable economy in the Middle East and North Africa region after Saudi Arabia, with a run of the mill Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2016 of US$412.2 billion. It in like way has the second most vital masses of the area after Egypt, with a respected 78.8 million people in 2015. Iran 's economy is depicted by the hydrocarbon piece, creating and affiliations, areas, and a detectable state closeness in social occasion and money related affiliations. Iran positions second on the planet in oil gas stores and fourth in indicated grungy oil spares. Monetary activity and government benefit still depend to an epic degree on oil occupations and thusly remain uncertain.
One would think there are enough conflicts to be had in the Middle East. The area is simply a breeding ground for turmoil, and has been for centuries. Of the many conflicts that revolve around the areas history, politics, religion, territory or ethnicity, one more can be added to the group: water. These societies all need water, but not all have the same resources to get to that water. What is the hotbed of vice in this situation is only a few of the countries in the Middle East have total control over their own water, leaving most of the others to depend on the graces of those few countries to manage their water magnanimously enough to supply them with what they need. With Turkey and Israel in control of much of the Middle
In regards to the Middle East, it appears that much of the long-standing conflict in the region is linked both directly and indirectly to water supplies. Since water is a vital part of life, it would make sense that this is a leading reason that political conflicts in the Middle East are old and seemingly intractable. The debate over water stems from two main sources, the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, with all nations in the watershed equally involved in the conflicts regarding the management of these rivers (Winnefeld 1994). Contributing factors in the water-related conflicts include issues regarding water quality, location of water sources, and location of water demand. In addition to regional
This so called “oil-curse” has hindered both the political and economic growth in the MENA region. Although it has hindered it, I don’t mean in the negative side were money isn’t flowing into these countries, I mean that the countries are not in the best health. With having oil, and being able to sell it at huge profits come at big loses for the citizens for these various countries. Even though countries like Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are quite rich, the amount of political corruption happening in these countries. Political corruptions in the government has caused the political growth in these country’s to be turned upside down and many rebel groups have taken over the region. In the MENA region, this “oil-curse” has gained the region in wealth, however the way the wealth is being spent isn’t aiding to the countries growth. And in having such wealth, and it being spent in such a way, the countries are very easily paying for their political ideologies and aiding rebels whom many considered terrorist.