COURSE OUTLINE

1) Week 1: Conceptualization of World Middle East

2) Week 2: Religious Diversity in Middle East and Its Impact

on the Global Interactions

3) Week 3: Impacts/Implication of Religion of Middle-East on

the Global Interaction

4) Week 4: Westerns Interest in Middle East: Oil Commerce,

Muslim Tourist Centres, Economy Reason

5) Week 5: Evaluation of Trade Patterns and Investment of

Middle East with the rest of the world

6) Week 6: Variables that Shape the foreign Policy Middle –

East

7) Week 7: Arab Spring as a Revolutionary Wave

8) Week 8: Middle East as Hub of Terrorism

9) Week 9: USA Democratic Promotion in Middle East

10) Week 10: Revision

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 CONCEPTUALIZE THE WORLD MIDDLE EAST
The term Middle East may have originated in the 1850s in
the British India office. However it became widely known when
America naval strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan used the term in
1902 to designate the area between Arabia and India.
During the time the British and Russian were vying for
influence in Central Asia – a rivalry which would become known
as the Great Game. Mahan realized that not only the strategic
importance of the region but also it’s centre “The Persian Gulf”.
He labelled the area surrounding the Persian Gulf as the Middle
East and said that the Suez Canal was important passage for
Britain to control and to keep Russians off from British India.
The Middle East consists of 20 countries and three sub –
regions . These countries are bind according to their
geographical groupings under the three sub – regions namely
Persian, Meditteranean and North Africa.
Persian Gulf Eastern Mediterranean North
Africa
Saudi Arabia Egypt Tunisia
Kuwait Turkey Morocco
Bahrain Syria Libya
Yemen Lebanon Algeria
Qatar Israel
U.A.E Jordan
Oman Palestine
Iran
Iraq

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Climate/Vegetation: Middle East is predominantly arid to
semi – arid except for the areas that adjoin the Meditteranean,
Aegean, Black and Capsian seas. The region is characterized by
high temperatures especially in Arabian, Syrian and Iranian
desert. In contrast winter temperature closer to freezing point
occurs in the highlands and snow in some higher mountainous
areas. Vegetation in the area is dominated by thorny scrubland.
Water: According to the World Bank, the Middle East region
has only 1% of the world available water which means that
there is serious shortage of fresh water in the Gulf Area. The
region receives little annual rainfall except for area bordering
the Meditteranean. Euphrates and Tigris are the largest rivers
in Middle East.
Agriculture: Because of the arid climate, only a small part of
the region can support agriculture. It is only the Euphrates and
Tigris River with their alluvial plains and extensive irrigation are
significant agricultural area.
Language: The five top languages of Middle East in terms of
speakers are Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Berber and Kurdish.
Arabic and Berber – represents Afro Asiatic language family
Persian and Kurdish – represents Indo – European language
Turkish – represents Turkic language family
Population: According to Soriesian and David (2008), the
Middle East has 5% of the world population. While according to
World Bank (2015) – Middle East population is 381 million in
2015, 357.3 million in 2014.
Religion: The Middle East is highly diversified when it comes to
religion and the three monotheistic religion traces it’s origin in

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the Middle East. These three religions are Islam, Christianity
and Judaism but it is predominantly Islam.
Islam believes in Allah and follows the sacred teachings of
Koran. Islam was split into two namely the Sunni and the Shia –
they both believe in one fundamentalism of Islam and
teachings of Koran but conflict about who to lead the religion
after the death of Mohammed.
Christianity believes in Jesus and follows the sacred
scripture called bible. The Christians are subjected to
persecution in the middle east which keeps reducing their
number because most of them seek for security by migrating
other countries eg Europe Christian are diverse in belief and
tradition.
Judaism which is predornonately seem us Israel believes in
the teaching of Torah and abhors pacifism which is a kind of
settlement of dispute between nations and ............... recourse
to violent the believe in eliminating whosoever that kill a
member of Jewish faith.
Religions plays a vital role in the politics of Middle East
because with religions and traditions works hand in hand to
form the government.
Economy: According to Ullmann 2007, the Middle East is
second to none on terms of renowned rich reservoir. Its
economy ranges from very poor Gaza and Yemen to
extremely rich nations of Qatar and United Arab Emirate.
According to CIA world facebook: the three largest
economy in 2008 were
 Turry – $794,228,000,000

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  Saudi Arabia – $467,601,000,000 in terms of
Nominal GAP
 Iran – $385,143,000,000

The highest ranking countries are

(1) Qatar - $93204
(2) UAE - $55,028
(3) Kuwalt - $43,920 in terms of nominal GDP per-
capital
(4) Cyprus - $32,745
The lowest – ranking countries in the Middle East in terms
of per-capital income (PPP) is the autonomous Palestinian
authority of Gaza and the West Bank ($1.00).
The economy structure of Middle East nation are different
in the sense that while some nations are heavily dependent on
expert of only oil and oil – related produces (Saudi Arabia,
UAE and Kuwait) others have a highly diverse economic base
(Cyprus, Israel, Turkey and Egypt). Industries of the M.E
regions Includes oil, Oil-related products, agriculture, cotton,
cattle, dairy, textiles, leather products, surgical instruments,
defence equipment such as gun, Ammunition, fighter jets etc.
Banking is also an important aspect of the economic
especial in the case of UAE and Bahrain. Tourism has been
relatively underdeveloped area of economy except for Cypress,
Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia which has attacked
great number of tourists because of improved facilities.
Unemployment is relatively high in Middle East particularly
among young people aged 15 – 29 years.

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Oil: According to Soresian and David 2008, Aromt 75% of the
world proved petroleum reserves are found in the Middle East
and most of it lies in the Persian Gult. The Size of the reserves
is just one of several factors that made middle east the centre
of the world petroleum activity. Oil is so abundant that little
effort is made to life it to the surface because associated
natural gas pressurized the oil deposits. Middle East oil also has
a relative low sulphur content known in the oil trade as “Sweet
oil” because it cost of refining is definitely low but oil found in
China or Indonesia Content high sulphur – making it more
expensive to refine since the sulphur must be removed during
to process.
According to Johari 2012: The importance of M.E lies in
its rid mess in terms of oil resource with is it greatest single
reserve nicknamed “Black Gold” of nations
According to Ullmann 2007: Middle East Possess 41% of
the world gas with 2681 (+cf) trillion cubic feet and 60% of the
world oil with 754 (bbl) barrel.
While Soresian and David (2008) Slates that M.E Posses
75% of the World proved oil and 33% of world gas.
Over 70 of the Middle East oil was generated from Jurassic
cretaceous Sediment while one of the lucky horizons for
petroleum generation in Middle East lucky horizons for
petroleum generation in Middle East is the Siturian “hot” Shale
called Qusaibah Shale in Saudi Arabia.
1930’s marked the Discovery of Vast amount of oil under
the water of the Gulf and beneath the Sands.

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2012 Statical Review of World Economy noted that ten
counties of M.E. Account for only 3.4% of the area but contains
48% of the world known oil reserve and 38% of natural gas
reserve.
Commerce: World commerce today sustains the livelihood of
billons of people and much of that commerce moves by Land
Sea and air through the Middle East sue canal
Politics: Religion plays vital sole in Middle East politics
because both tradition and religion works hand in hand to form
the political government system. Loyalties in the Middle East
are often divided between family, faith and nationality it
political system range between authoritarian and democratic
rub. Most authoritative regime in Middle East draws at claimed
authenticity from Islam eg Saudi Arabia and Iran while some
authoritative regime base their authority claims on nationality
or ideology while other seek religious legitimacy as foundation.
Infant the nature of politics in Middle East can be described as
an authoritative one. Absolute monarchy – authorities regime.
Democratic regimes is legitimately based on popular consent
in mid east democracy regimes serves at the behest of citizens
who have the power to hold their responsibly for meeting public
needs and expectative and who may remove the elected rulers
peacefully should they fail public hopes. Eg. Israel and Turkey
are only two confuses that are close to the definitive of full
democracy. Democratic regime in the Middle East would likely
not labour religious militant. Constitutional monarchy –
Democratic regime

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Revisionist: argues that democracy is slightly incompatible
with the Middle East values
Boundary Disputes and Wars: The Middle East regime has
experienced several conflict and wars within the list fifty years.
The Israeli – Arab conflict has been the most prominent and is
yet a be resolved.

RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY IN MIDDLE EAST AND IT’S IMPACT

ON THE GLOBAL INTERACTIONS
Religion is a key to understanding politics in the Middle
East and it has a pronounced impact on society and politics.
The three monotheistic religion namely Islam, Judaism and
Christianity originated in the Middle East with Islamic Religion
predominating with almost 90 percent of the Middle East
population.
Religious diversity is simply different on varieties of
religion which appears to be a regular feature of the modern
complex society - Middle East is therefore highly diversified
when it comes to religion and this religious differences make
conflict more intense. The more diverse a country’s religious
population, the more violent it’s domestic conflict tend to be.

Islam Religion in the Middle East and it’s political

involvement
It is the most widely followed religion in the Middle East.
Islam is monotheistic believing in Allah and follows the teaching
of the Western sacred text known as the “Koran”. Islam is

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believed to be an extension of Judaism and Christianity with
Mohammed is the final prophet of God. Islam religion was split
into two namely the Sunni and the Shia. Majority of Muslims are
Sunni. These two agreed on the fundamentals of Islam and
teachings of Koran but conflict about who would lead the
Muslim community after the death of Mohammed continues.
The Islam adherence goes on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia
precisely to the
1. Prophet’s mosque in Medina – first holiest – Birth of Islam
2. Grand mosque in Mecca – second holiest – Birth of
Mohammed
3. Dome of the rock – place from which Mohammed
ascended to heaven after a night journey from Mecca.
Islam as a major religion in the Middle East clearly affects
political practise there According to Brown: the weight of
Muslim tradition was on the side of political submission. Some
have it that Islamic beliefs sanction democracy while other
claim that Islam is fundamentally anti – democracy but one
interpretation of Islam is that it is adherently undemocratic
because the source of laws is Koran and the duty of a good
Muslim is to obey the law rather than debate it therefore most
authoritative regime draws their claim from Islam.

Judaism religion in Middle East and political practises:-

Judaism is one of the major monotheistic religion believing in
the sacred teachings of the Torah. It is mostly in the state of
Israel. One of the Judaism fundamental principles is that God
promised the land of Israel as an external inheritance as long

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as the Jews follow the guideline delinated in Mosaic covenant
and the fact that the Jews were re – gathered back in their
ancient homeland after their expulsion in 70AD by Romans
were seen as a fulfilment of that prophecy.
Judaism provides political issues from it’s recorded writs and
other lessons from it’s recorded writs and other lessons flow
from the history of Judaism. Torah eschews pacifism which is a
kind of political settlement of disputes between nations without
recourse to violent and instead Torah commands preemptive
action against and death for anyone who killed a member of
Jewish faith.
In 1950 Knesset propounded the political law of Return “
Any person claiming to be a Jew to immigrate to Israel and
become a citizen should be allowed”.
In 1952 Nationality law granted Israeli citizenship to those
living in Israel including Muslim and Christians.

Christianity religion in Middle East and it’s population

practises
Christianity in Middle East is characterized with it’s diverse
beliefs and traditions. They believe in their holy scripture called
Bible. Christianity now make up to 5% of the population down
from 20% in the early 20th century – Their number is dropping
due to such factors such as low birth rates, extensive
emigration, ethnicity and persecution. It is estimated that at
the present rate, the Middle East 12 million Christians will likely
drop to 6 million by the year 2020.

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The Role of Religion in Middle East politics
The role that religion plays in politics is embedded in the
structure of the Middle East. Religion and politics of the Middle
East have special significance in view of the history.
History tells us that the Jews like Christians and Muslims
have used religion to justify and legitimate expansion and
warfare. Also Christians and Muslim have also used religious
revelation to rationalized HOLY WAR. The papacy took a
political step under pope Urban II when crusader was lunched
as HOLY WAR to retake Jerusalem from Muslim. The massacre
of Muslim took place for political gains which was a deed of the
crusader.
Historically both religion and tradition works hand in hand
to form the government system of the region and many
government system of the region and many government
system of the region used religion to justify their authoritative
political system within the Middle East. Most of these
authoritative regime draws it’s claim from Islam eg Saudi
Arabia and Iran.
In spite of this, almost all law existing in the Middle East
countries stems at least partially from religious belief. In some
countries, religious law is the law as in Saudi Arabia where the
sharia law in forms jurisprudence.
In other Middle East countries, religious groups, pressure
their political leaders to adopt religious law leading to
compromise where at least some of the legal code derivers
from religious beliefs.

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IMPACTS/IMPLICATION OF RELIGION OF MIDDLE EAST ON
GLOBAL INTERACTION:-
1. Terrorism:- Terrorism is a contemporary phenomenon
that emerged as a consequent from religious extremist and has
rock the world interaction. The terrorist groups that originated
in the Middle East has expanded to various countries of the
global parading their wicked trade mark of massacring people.
On the 11th of September 2001, the United States
witnessed an attack at the World Trade Centre New York – this
remained a point of reference in the United States effort in
fighting terrorism in the world. The terrorist attack was
attributed to Osama Bin Laden and his terrorist group who
vowed to keep the United States and it’s citizens restless due
to the role they play in the Middle East – Bush Administration
proclaimed a doctrine of pre- emptive action as a core part of
USA WAR AGAINST TERRORISM.
In 1998, the United States Embassy in Kenya was attacked
and on 2nd of April 2015, a Kenyan university was attacked also
by the terrorist group “AL- SHABAAB”, a franchise group of the
AL – QAEDA. There are lots of terrorism in the world today by
different terrorist groups namely
Boko Haram terrorist group – Nigeria
ISIS terrorist group – Middle East
Al-Qaeda terrorist group
Al – Shabaab terrorist group
Hamas terrorist group

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2. Brutual Death: - The religious extremist make people to
face a brutual death which has thrown the world in a great
state of panic.
2nd of April 2015 = A group of religious terrorist attacked
and massacred 147 Christian students in Kenyan University.
On the 15th of February 2015, 21 coptic Catholic were
shown slaughtered in a video purported done in a river near
Tripoli.
The religious extremist in Nigeria who are advocating for
Islamic state have resort to killing, massacre and bombing of
human lives. For example; December 25 th 2012 bombing of
Saint Theresa Catholic Church Mandele, various bombing of
mosque prayer ground full of worshippers, bombing of market
places, car garage, e.t.c.
Brutual Death: Horrifying methods of killing which includes
beheading, bulldozing, burning alive and throwing people off
the top of the buildings. CNN Report says between Jan 2014 –
Oct 2015, nearly 19000 civilians have been killed in Iran.
3. Emigration: Emigration from history has been the
attributes of the minorities in the Middle East especially after
the fall of the Ottoman Empire. The attitude of the majority of
Muslims in the Islam dominated Middle East, opens the doors of
the minority religious groups who have become preys to the
larger community to run for their lives.
In Syria for example, Mount Lebanon is presented as the
meeting point where Christians and Muslim in 17 th century
confront themselves, leading to high exodus of Christians to
Egypt, Europe and others (United States). The story is not

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different today as Christians persecuted in Syria and Iraq,
exiled to Europe and some to America. The problem in the
Middle East is not emigrating but how to emigrate as Christians
are targets – if you are caught, you either renounce your belief
or you will be denounced and put to death as an infidel. 27 th
Sept 2015 = Pope Francis addressed Hispanic immigrants and
other immigrants from the rest of the world in United States
telling them not to be discouraged notwithstanding oppression
from certain world leaders. According to CNN; on 19 th Jan 2016,
about 3.2 million people were internally displaced including 1
million school aged children.
4. Religious War: This comes as a result of religious
incitement in many religious institutions – the message is zero
tolerance of non – cambant (infidel).
Example: The strife between Israel and Palestine today has
been seen by scholars as a continuation of the ancient strife
between Judaism and Islam. Lebanon suffered two long civil
and religious war in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s because of the
distribution of political post between different Muslim and
Christian communities.
In 1982, between 20000 and 30000 Muslims from all over
the globe joined war in Soviet occupied Afghanistan infidels.
The church under the reign of Pope Urban IV launched the
crusaders as HOLY WAR in order to reclaim Jerusalem from the
Muslims.
5. Decline In World Economy:- The religious extremist
terrorist attack threatens the world economic base and
guarantee international visibility. Example, in order to prevent

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the sudden attack of this terrorist group, the United States had
to restructure it’s strategic doctrine and they spend close to
one billion dollars annually on troops planted at strategic places
such as the borders of Syria, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia – This
money would have been used to boost the world economy base
via investments, foreign aid instead of security.
Nigeria spent more on security because of the Boko
Haram terrorist group which also affect the economy of the
nations negatively.

WESTERN INTEREST IN THE MIDDLE EAST

According to Johari (2012), the interest of the West and
the importance of Middle East lies in it’s strategic locations, it’s
richness in terms of oil resources. The case of Persian Gulf can
be cited to prove how vital a place natural resources occupy in
the context of power. The nations of Arab are carefully treated
by the West only because of oil which they possess and it’s
vitality in the world of adventures and enterprise – Middle East
remains the HUB of three continents namely Africa, Asia and
Europe and provides trade routes.
OIL:- Oil is the most significant natural resource in the Middle
East with three quarters of the global supply located there.
Therefore in terms of oil, the Middle East is second to none and
over 70% of the Middle East oil is generated from Jurassic
cretaceous sediment.
According to Ullmann (2007), Middle East possess 41%
gas – 2681 tcf ( trillion cubic feet) and 60% oil of the world –

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754 bbl (billion barrels) and the rest of the world has 40% with
504 bbl.
According to Soresian & David (2008), 75% of the
world proved oil reserves are found in the Middle East and
mostly in the Persian Gulf. While 33% i.e 2346 tcf of world gas
is located there, the oil of Middle East according to Soresian &
David is said to be “Sweet” oil because it contains less sulphur
and the cost of it’s refining is less to that of the rest of the
world that contains high sulphur e.g the oil found in China or
Indonesia contains high sulphur and it’s cost of refining appears
very costly since the sulphur would be removed.
Therefore oil has been very paramount in shaping the
interest of Britain and later USA towards the region. America,
British and French companies obtained drilling rights in number
of Middle East countries. USA bought into Iraq oil the standard
oil of New Jersey and standard oil of New York in 1928.
Standard oil of California and Texaco in 1936 gained control of
Arabian oil by forming the Arabia American oil company
(ARAMCO) in 1946. By mid – late 1940s USA companies
controlled at least 42% of Middle East oil.
The Anglo – Persian oil company by the British started
developing the oil field of Iran in 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, the
Middle East became the principal source of oil for Western
Europe. Britain and Russia invaded Iran and replaced the Shah
Reza Pahlarinth Insson Mohammed Reza Palhari in order to
protect access to Iranian oil and secure routes to ship the
Western military aid to the Soviet Union. This single act of USA

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is opposed their intention of instilling democratic regime in
Mena – because it clashed their interest in oil.
Commerce: - World commerce today sustains the livelihood of
billions of people and much of that commerce moves by land,
sea and air through the Middle East. The seaborne track
between Europe and Asia generally passes through the Suez
Canal into the Red Sea while much of the world oil transmits
the narrow straits of Hormuz at the mouth of Persian Gulf.
Other ocean trade moves through the Meditterranean Sea,
North of the Coast of Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and
Egypt.
In 1941, Britain and Russia invaded Iran just to secure
access or route to ship Western military aid. America, Britain,
France and Russia are all interested in the route from which
they can transmit raw materials and trade. Britain maintained
interest in Middle East for two relative reasons. 1. Britain relied
on it’s far flung colonial empire for it’s raw materials and
consequently needed a navy and oil to fuel the ship. 2. Persian
Gulf for Britain offered more convenient access to the Indian
ocean and colonies that lie beyond.
Economic Reason: - Because Middle East is seen as a war
zone, superpowers utilizes the opportunity to sell off their
equipment in order to make economic gain. Example: - In 1967,
the American took over from French as the principal arms
supplier to Israel – America transfer military equipment to
Israel.
Also during the Iraq – Iran war, the USA fitted politically
towards Iraq partly because of the old adage that the enemy of

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my enemy is my friend. The USA provided Iraq with military
equipment that could be used in Iraqi weapon of mass
destruction programs. Although the Defence department
directed to those sales which totalled $11.5 billion between
1985 – 1990 that the State Commerce department approved.
Birth:- It is the birthplace of the world three monotheistic
religion namely Islam, Christianity and Judaism. The Western
interest lies on it’s tourism attraction.
Christianity Tourist Centre: - Jerusalem, capital of Israel
attracted people from all over the world in pilgrimage to the
Church of Holy sepulchre, site of Christ crucifixion, stations of
the cross and Church of Nativity and Tomb of Jesus.
Jewish tourist centre: - Western Wall was also called the
Wailing Wall is the holiest site in the world for Jews who go on
pilgrimage there to pray and connect to both their faith and
their past. Wailing Wall is possibly is the possibly remains of the
Hebrew second temple destroyed by the Romans.
Muslim Tourism Centre: - Muslim from both the West and
other part of the World go on pilgrimage to the three holiest
site for the Islam.
Medina: - Prophet’s mosque in Medina – place where Islam
was birth – considered the first holiest site.
Mecca: - Grand mosque in Mecca the place of birth of
Mohammed – considered the second holiest site.
Dome of the Rock: - The place from which Muslims believe
prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven after a night journey
from Mecca.

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One of the luckiest horizons for oil generation in the Middle East
is the siturian “hot” shale called Qusaibah shale in Saudi
Arabia. Iran has the highest

EVALUATION OF TRADE PATTERNS AND INVESTMENT OF

MIDDLE EAST WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD
Foreign investment is critical to the Middle East and
capital investment is critical also to economic progress.
International investors move billions of dollars everyday to
markets around the world, lured by the promise of high returns.
Investment flowed into the European Union, North America with
North American Free Trade Area but foreign investment did not
flow into other regions at similar rates including Middle East.
Even the wealthy Gulf Cooperation Council States found that
more investment was leaving than coming in. While the Gulf
Area generates great wealth, much of it, is leaving the Gulf to
be invested in other places. Many wealthy Arabs prefer to
invest in real estate rather than industrial development
because they realise that their own people cannot purchase
industrial goods at profitable rate because of their low incomes
and that industrial goods produced in the Middle East , given
high production costs, cannot compete successfully outside the
region. Eg Saudi Arabia focus on larger domestic market.
The lack of peace between Israel and it’s neighbours and
the overall fears of political violence also contributed to the
lack of foreign investment. Foreign Investment is also critical to
the Middle East, but investors are hesitant. For example:- In
1998 the USA invested $149 billion in Europe, $48 billion in

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Latin America, $47 billion in Asia and the Pacific but only $2.3
billion in the Middle East , with only $2.1 billion in Israel. The
Arab World’s share of world total DIRECT FOREIGN INVESTMENT
shrank from 2.6 percent in 1975 – 1980 to 1.3 percent in 1980 –
1990 and 0.7 percent in 1990 – 1998. In dollar amounts foreign
direct investment shrank from $5.8 in 2002 to $4.6 billion in
2003. According to the United Nations Development Program,
Arab countries drew less than 1 percent of total direct
investment in the world over the past two decades largely
excluded from world trade patterns, partly because high tariff
structures remains in most of the region’s countries outside of
the primary oil producers. One reason is that Middle East and
North African countries rely heavily on tariff duties for state
income.
Example: - Tunisian taxes result from tariff revenues and
Lebanon’s are almost as high.
Without trade liberalization, many Middle East and North
African countries protect local producers who are now forced to
compete with more efficient foreign producers. They also find
themselves falling behind other developing countries that have
liberalized their trade pattern policies eg East Asia.
The Gulf Co–Operation Council includes Bahrain, Kuwait,
Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates = are of
increasingly important node in the global economy and it’s
future depends heavily on how it’s trade and investment
relations with other world. This made them took major strides
to coordinate trade policies and they were committed to a
common currency in 2010.

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1. India: are the major investors of the United Arab Emirates
but Gulf Investment flows are held back by their
challenging business environment despite the fact that
Indian investment is a growth driver in the United Arab
Emirate.
2. The Common Wealth: Independent States Has Increased
its trade and Investment engagement with the GCC in
Energy; Petrochemicals, Infrastructure and Tourism
3. China: GCC trade ties are strengthening at a faster rate
than investment that by 2020, China will be the bigger
export market for the GCC. Chinese Investment in the GCC
is on the Uptick while Gulf companies have in return
security comparatively few refinery protects in China
4. USA: Entered into lots of Bilateral treaty with the middle
East on Trade and Investment – By the Middle East pm
trade and investment – By the mid-late 1940’s the USA
Controls 42 percent of the Middle East oil and also
established its companies in middle east which include.
Texaco and Standard oil of California
Finally Middle East trade and investment with the rest of
the world is Lopsided because despite its highly diverse
economic base, area like Tourism which the common wealth
has invested on is relatively underdevelopment area of
economy except for counties like Saudi Arabia (Madeira, Mecca
and Dome of the Rock) and unemployment rate among the
youth is high.
It is really as a result of political violence instability in
Middle East that made its trade 5 investments with the rest of

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the world relatively low – because investors are hesitant while
resulted in limited foreign investment flows.

According to Fawcett Louise 2005

The middle east tries to improve its trading pattern with
the rest of the world by joining the world trade organisation and
trying with various reservations to liberalize their trade policies
in order to take advantage of the new division of labour
connote by globalization

According to recent study of the United Nations

Economies and Social Commission for Western Asia
ESCWA 2002: Analysed the share of the Arab World in the
World Economy remains as follows 4.7 percent of the world
population, it accounted for only 2% percent of the world GDP
in 2001 and attracted a bare 0.8% percent of the world foreign
Direct/Investment.
Middle East FDI turn out to be negative because of large
disinvesting and part of the Middle East difficulties in attracting
private capital may be related to purely economic consideration
such as the cost of skilled labour and the side of national
markets. Political regimes are also an obstacle

The Universal Survey Findings: Noted that there is a major

credibility gap between local and foreign investors which may
be more problematic in the Middle East – This finding may carry
more negative implications for FDI in the Middle East. Also
Middle East countries may have greater difficulty attracting FDI

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because the investors are more discriminating and demanding
of information than foreigners who invest in other regions
Example: Egyptian investors close to the Sadat regime privy to
much inside information.
Despite the above failings, there are countries in the
Middle East that are principal performers in the region
example; Morocco, Israel and Lebanon. Israel attracted
tremendous amount of foreign direct investment and official
development assistance as well, mainly in the form of US
economic aid. Morocco did the same in absolute but hard in per
capital terms. Lebanon had little FDI because the country was
converting part of it’s unimaginable internal public department
into external less expensive bond. Egypt and Tunisia were also
becoming active in International Bond Market thereby
explaining the Middle East one apparent “bright spot” in 2001.

VARIABLE THE SHAPE MID-EAST FOREIGN POLICY

Foreign policy is the externalization of the domestic Policy
the man variable of mid east foreign policy that helped in
shaping the foreign Policy are as following:
1) National Security: Due to its strategic and economic
importance has been made a matter of haring security. This
remains the number one variable that helped in shaping the
foreign policy of mid east – this is because Mid-East Is the
center of the Western interest the hub of three continents
namely Asia, North Africa and Europe? Do the its Strategic
Locasn and richness in natural resources oil by ether with it’s
provision of trade routes – Mid East because the centre of all

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attentions in which most of the Great Power want to gain
control.
National Security is vital because according to Louis
Fawcett until mid east reach fundamental political
accommodation with one another, the regime will continue to
be hostage to basic security.
2005 Feb 5 = Saudi host a Mayor Security conference
because safeguarding the environment and promotions of
human right seem to many of the people of the region as
fantasy eg the section 13.3 Foreign Relations Iran’s first foreign
policy argued the tab league to play a key role in remaining the
injustice that has befallen Iraq as a restyle of USA hegemony
Arab League – Collective security.
2) Commerce: According to Johan J.C. 2012. The Mid-East as
the hub of three continents, provides trade routes to the globe
which made the vitality of the region to be on the higher side.
According to Soreson and David (2008): The world
commerce today sustain the livelihood of billon of pole and
much of this commerce passes through land, air of sea through
the mid east the sea born trade between Europe of Asia
Generally passes through the Suez Canal into the
meditterranean to the Red Sea whole much of the world oil
transepts via the Straits of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian
Gulf and other Ocean trade moves through the meditterranean
sea north cost of Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt –
that’s why the Stability of those Countries remains relativity
special.

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3) Suez Canal: is an international waterways for the
shipping of all nations. Suez canal convention was in
1888”which has objective legislative character as where it
creates a situation binding all nations”. It is also another
variable that aids in the shaping of Mid – East foreign policy. It
was opened in 1869 with a huge international celebration.
Mohammed Ali’s effort to modernize Egypt was continued by
his grandson Ismail who supported the construction of Suez
Canal. Suez Canal was a human – made waterway that cut
through the Isthmus of Suez. It connected the Red Sea to the
Meditteranean. The Suez Canal was viewed as the “LIFELINE OF
THE EMPIRE” because it allowed Britain quicker access to it’s
colonies in Asia and Africa. According to Tohari (2012), the Suez
Canal as a commercial artery has at all times been enmeshed
in political consideration. In 1956, the UN first used armed
peacekeepers during the Suez crisis in Egypt. When Britain
farce, Israel fought Egypt for the control of the Suez Canal.
4) Oil: This is the most vital variable because the importance
of the Mid – East lies in it’s richness in natural resources
especially it’s possession of the greatest single oil reserve
nicknamed “Blackgold Of The Nation” according to Joharin
(2012).
According to Louise Fawcett (2005), the importance of Mid
– East lies in the lesson that the future oil needs of the West
were going to be met increasingly from oil introduction of the
huge oil reserves of the Arab oil.
According to Ullemann (2007), the Middle East possess the
60% of the world oil while the rest of the world has 40%. 60%

25
oil with 754 bbl (billion barrels), 41% gas with 2681 tcf (trillion
cubic feet). Mid – East is second to none
In terms of oil. 70% of the Mid – East oil is generated from
Jurassic cretaceous sediment and one of the tricky horizons for
petroleum generation in Mid East is the situation “hot” shale
called the Qusaibah shale in Saudi Arabia. According to Soresan
& David (2008), 75% proven oil reserve is located in the Mid
East and 33% of 2346 tcf natural gas. Little effort is required in
lifting the Mid East oil because the associated natural gas
pressurizes the oil deposits. Mid – East oil sweet with less
sulphur. 1930s marked the vast discovery of massive oil
deposit beneath the sands and under the water of the Gulf.
5) Territorial Expansion:- It is yet another variable that
tends to shape the foreign policy of major Mid – East countries.
This is because the regional power struggle countries like
Turkey, Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia & Egypt are all region players
that each have a unique interest and perspective and as a
result they often fight proxy wars against each other (Israel &
Palestine) in order to gain dominance in other regions of Mid –
East or control commercial and financial sectors. It is also
applicable to the West that tries to extend the colonization
activities in the Mid East eg Russia, Britain, French & USA.
All these variables tends to shape the Mid- East foreign
policy because it is the attractive features in the Mid – East that
they heed to protection and promote for their own interest.
The record of MENA countries policy is mixed with respect
to their trade policies. Indeed some Mid – East states explicitly
design their foreign policies to serve economic ends.

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IDENTIFICATION OF REGIONALISM PROSPECTS AND
CHALLENGES
Prospects
Mid –East regionalism has a respectable pedigree both
form an institutional and non – institutional perspective.
Regionalism is the process where states (and other actors)
coordinate strategy and policy in any given region, is central to
the debate about cooperation in the Mid – East. The aim of
regionalism is to pursue common goals in one or more issue
areas.

Economy
Mid – East regionalism has different arrangements and
groupings of both Arab and Non – Arab state whether in the
Arab league, Baghdad pact or the Gulf co -operation council as
well as the different bilateral alliances eg USA with Israel and
Iran (before 1979). Successful states in Mid – East belongs to
successful regions eg Gulf Region = The Gulf Region discovers
and makes effective identity and purpose that relate to the
needs of religion and informs its interactions with the outside
world ie attract investors and labour movements security.

Arab League:
The attempt to articulate the Arab regional identity in
recent times emerged on the political level with the creation of
the league and Arab States as a binding factor in 1945. The
Arab League was started as a collective security organisation –

27
developed in times to perform wider functions. Arab League as
cooperative mechanism has penetrated the Economic and
Social field of the Middle East.
According to Nye (1971), the League has played a
significant negotiating role. The League did achieved a certain
unity of purpose and action in it’s stance against Israel and
boycott of Israeli goods.

Challenges of Regionalism
1. Absence of power balancing technique:- Mid East
states have been balancers and weak legemins in their
different region eg Egypt has often been regarded as the
natural leader in the Arab World and at times displayed
the characteristics of a legemin particularly under the
charismatic leader(President Nassar) but it’s economic,
cultural and military power were not robust enough for a
sustained period to warrant that title. Syria and Iraq have
made different bids for regional dominance using military
nationalist tools and religious movement such as ISIS –
The Syria and Iraq failed because of feeble balancing
behaviour.
2. Regional Great Power: - Israel is the obvious regional
great power yet one which has failed so far, to help
construct a viable order, for reasons that relate to it’s
regional, isolation, bilateral dependence on the Western
especially USA and for domestic conflict between Israel
and Palestine that has been ages and yet settled – This
crises has lasted long because of the presence of powerful

28
 identities that overlap and even conflict with the existing
state system.
3. Unequal Distribution Power:- Unequal distribution of
power both in economy and in political aspect.
Economy: The nature of the oil economy despite
evidence of common strategy and design within the Arab
States of organisation of petroleum exporting countries,
has help to explain the limits of economic cooperation.
Political Sector: Diversity of regime type and interest
together with external influence have in turn constrained
political cooperation and there is need for fundamental
political reform in Mid – East regionalism in order to meet
up with the rest of the world. Finally the study of
regionalism in Middle East has often been condemned as a
sterile exercise, theoretically limited and empirically
uninteresting – this is because regionalism is not merely
about identifying bands of economic, political, or
integration but should be seen as a flexible and evolving
concept encompassing a wide range of actors and actions.
Failure of regionalism reflects the failure of region itself.
Arab Unity: Arab unity were awkward partners but for
Arabs, fear of dominion by a single state and the multiple
agenda of regime prevented a common stance. Arab
attempts between 1957 – 1967 to create a common
market were characteristically ambitious but ultimately
failed – due to lack of consensus over the type of
agreement sought over common tariffs and trade policies.
Arab trade with member states were minimal instead

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 projects to trade with others. By the end of 1960s the
different experiments in regionalism/regional integration
faltered and failure of the institution like the Arab League
was by no means absolute.

ARAB SPRING
This is sample democratic movement that originated in
the Tunisia on 18th December 2010 it was both non violent and
violent at the same time. It started in Tunisia and Spread
across the Arab nations such as Egypt, Libya, Syria Yemen and
Saudi Arabia in 2011.
This came up as a result of an incident in a particular town
in Tunis where a young man set himself on fire “Sidi Bouzid” as
a protect against him fruit and vegetables that was confiscated
by the police in Ins Steel Stall.
Also give to the long authoritarian regime that refalsed
reform, high rate of unemployment among the youth and
educated, high level of poverty and corruption – the masses
took and street when the social mass media aid in
disseminating the message – which resulted into mobilization of
tens of thousands of protesters.
This incident that happened in Tunisia was signing the
state of economic, social and political system in the region had
many fault line.
The overthrown of the president in Tunisia encourage
those opposed to the regime in Egypt and soon after, Egyptian
president was forced to leave his post.

30
 It first hit Egypt and Libya in both countries long time
rubbers were brought down. In Yemen where its economy was
at the verge of collapse- the ruler gave up his position in return
for Amnesty.
Political Regime: In the regime as populist authoritarian
government – one would expect a populist regime to provide
minimum standard of life and social services. What happened
Tunisia showed that not only in Tunisia but in many countries of
the region that the political systems have not been able to
provide the minimum level of welfare for a significant portion of
the society.

Economic factor that contributed to Arab Spring

Economic factor that contribute to Arab Spring were unfair
income distribution, widespread poverty, unemployment of the
young and educated, corruption and cronyism.
The highest 20 percent income group in Tunisia receive
47.9% of the countries total income while the lowest 20%
received 5.9% in 2009. In Egypt highest receive 40.3% and
lowest 9.4%. In Syria 45.3% highest and 7.2% lowest.
The Arab Spring provided both challenges and
opportunities for those countries.
Challenges include: Job creation, Increasing Economic
growth, fighting corruption and cronyism and ensuring the rule
of law, restricting public sector.
Opportunities include: Opportunities for the young and
educated to secure job, foreign investment, social, political and

31
economic transformation that started with the Arab Spring
would continue.

Social media as a contributing factor to the success of

Arab Spring:
Social media played a vital role in the political debate of
the Arab Spring. It aid in the rapid disintegration of two regimes
in Tunisia and Egypt while contributing to socio-political
mobilization in Libran.
The protest were kick started by a facebook campaign and
Twitter Campaign which generated Tens of thousands of
positive responds.
The Arab Spring deceit a serious blow to the myth of
authorities development and the after math of the Arab Spring
was that the long standing dictators were toppled like Gadaffi
and Mubarak Ben Ali.
The goal of Arab Spring was
(a) Democracy (2) Employment (3) Human Right

Arab League and Management Crisis in Syria

(1) The conflict between Israel and Palestine is still on-going
and has define every international mediation and its
reason was because USA is backing up Israel and Israel
remains USA eye in the Arab world.
Six days war in 1967 against Arab world of which
Israel defeated. Peace initiative failed because of
authoritative regimes in different areas.

32
(2) USA supporting the Syrian rebels against Assaid the
reigning government.
(3) Economy Sabotage in Nigeria: Sabotage is a deliberate
action aimed at weakening a polity. Pipeline vandalization
in Niger Delta, money laundry, looting, unemployment,
poverty.
USA adoption of Esponage: is simply Spying every other
Nations uses Esponage. Globalization reduces the efficacy of
Esponage.

MIDDLE EAST HUB OF TERRORISM

Terrorism is a contemporary phenomenon that emerged
as a consequence of religious extremist in the Mid East. It is
entirely a product of politics and is used as a political tactic for
almost a century now in the Middle East.
Terrorism/Insurgent evolution in the Mid East started in
the Palestine for Jewish interest not Muslim.
According to Arie C.K (2009), terrorism is another
characteristics that is popularly attributed to the Mid East.
According to Fawcett Louise (2005), Mid East and indeed
the vaster Islamic world was in it’s view, a breeding ground for
terrorism.
Mid East is seen as the hub of terrorism because it is seen
generally seen as a breeding ground for terrorism and terrorist
group. The State Department (2009) designates the region as
having 25 major active terrorist organisation with the recent
global terrorism index presenting Al – Qaeda in Mid East as the
number one most dangerous terrorist group out of the 150

33
terrorist groups. The perception of Mid East as hub of terrorism
appears to be valid in the five year period of 1998 – 2003
alone, the region saw 208 international terrorist attacks
resulting in the death of over 3560( State Department ... 2004).
According to 2013 global terrorism index, the top ten
countries
With highest levels of terrorist activities, Mid East has the four
top countries namely
1. Iraq with 10 points
2. Afghanistan with 9.39 points
3. Syria with 8.12 points
4. Yemen with 7.31 points
2014/2015 record still presents those four countries as the
top four countries with highest terrorist activities. Saudi Arabia
(Middle State) exercises foreign policy influenced by funding
various Islamic group that particularly share its Islamic vision
for example; such terrorist groups are Taliban group,
Madrasses group. After the Sept 11th 2001 attack against the
World Trade Centre, the American government placed pressure
on Saudi Arabia to cease funding some Islamist groups linking
to terrorism. 15 out of the 19 Al Qaeda terrorists are from Saudi
Arabia while the remaining 4 are from United Arab Emirate, 2
Egypt and Lebanon. Several other terrorist attacks all operate
from the Middle East example: The bombing of the US embassy
in Kenya and Tanzania in 1996, another bombing in Nairobi in
1998, bombing the US Cole in 2000 even the recent bombing in
Paris 2015 by the ISIS. The 2 nd April terrorist attack at Kenya
University by the Al Shabaab, a franchise of the Al Qaeda.

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ISIS AIMS/TARGET
The full meaning of ISIS is the Islamic States of Iraq and
Syria is a self proclaimed caliphate of Islamic State fighting
across Syria and Iraq. It is a jihadist militant group that follows
an Islamic fundamentalist Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam.
Their aim is to acquire political tool for overtake of state power,
pushing back armies and capturing entire cities waging an
increasingly sophisticated media campaign, recruit disillusioned
youth as it tries to extend it’s reach across the Muslim world
and beyond.
The ISIS extended to Afghanistan to proclaim a “Korhran”
caliphate after the ancient Persian empire.
UN Report: Recruiting is their primary goal and the
organisation branding is going viral. Their focus is on teenagers
and young people who are very emotional that can be easily
connected.
Abchie: noted that people join ISIS because they pay
more money.
The leader of the ISIS: - Abu Bakr al Baghdadi
The main aim of ISIS: - is to establish a caliphate or Islamic
State in Sunni majority regions and to take over state power
and establish Jihad and establish unified Islamic State – where
the rule of law is determined by Sharia or Muslim lamonical law
based on the teachings of the Quran. Therefore ISIS insurgency
has become a political tool to shape a state or to extract power
or leadership. Abu Bakr al Baghdadi made one of his few public
statement of declaring it’s so called caliphate in Mosul.

35
 January 11, 2016: US airstrike destroyed the building in
Mosul that the terror group had been using as a bank to pay its
fighters. USA bombed the financial institution in order to
destabilize the terror group. USA has also bombed ISIS gas and
oil production and distribution capacities and strikes against it’s
economic infrastructure and various sources of revenue. USA
did this in order to take away ISIS ability to rescue itself and to
cut off it’s ability to function as a state.

IS TERRORISM THE CAUSE OF REGIONAL CONFLICT IN

THE MIDDLE EAST?
Terrorism is a characteristics popularly attributed to the
Mid – East. It is a contemporary phenomena that emerged as a
result of religious extremist in the Mid East.
The real cause of regional conflict in the Mid – East is the
political creation by the Western in order to secure their
economic interest. Example The United States of America are
sponsoring rebels in Syria to keep on with their internal crises
which has become a massive proxy war for numerous
international powers both in the region and outside the region.
Currently the United States of America, Russia, France and the
Gulf States, Turkey and Israel are involved in one way or
another in military activity in Syria.
The United States tilted politically towards Iraq during the
Iraq – Iran war because of the old adage that the enemy of my
enemy is my friend. The US provided Iraq with equipment that
could be used in Iraq’s weapon of mass destruction program
although the Defence Department objected to these sales

36
which totalled $1.5 billion between 1985 – 1990. The State and
Commerce Department approved them in order words USA
showed facet support for Iraq during this eight years war with
Iran, aid in the regional conflict for the USA economic interest in
the Iraq oil and economic gains. The conflict of Iraq – Kuwait
came to it’s height because of USA involvement in it despite UN
warning that USA should keep off. Saddam Hussein became a
threat in the region because whoever controls the Gulf
automatically maintains a stronghold of the global economy.
Saddam metamorphosed from a friend to foe of the USA
because their ability to remain dominant world power would be
put into question. So with the capture and consequent
execution of Saddam Hussein, USA reign in the Gulf region and
entire Middle East will be long.
The Israel/Palestine conflict keeps lingering because the
USA is showing facet support to Israel by providing them with
military equipment and financial aid.
Lack of Democracy: - The USA invaded Iraq in the name of
instilling democracy. They overthrew the presidency of Sheh
Rezi Pahari and placed his son Mohammed Razi Pahari but the
truth remains that USA wanted a puppet government in Iraq to
ensure that Iraq reverts to dollar standard and does not
constitute a threat to free flow of oil to the West – therefore for
their economy interest/gain instigating crises in the region.
Gadaffi of Libya formed an autocratic refusal of Western
influence on their oil, he rather rationalized their oil, used the
revenue to better Libya but the Western instigated conflict
again using the pro – Gadaffi supporters “rebels” and NATO to

37
state that the States require democracy – at the refusal of
Gadaffi the West attacked and killed him in Tripoli.
Most terrorist group in the Mid East are receiving facet
support from the West in other words promoting the conflict
and instability in the Middle East.

THE MIDDLE EAST IS A MYTH

Myth is a commonly held but false belief, a common
misconception. It is a myth, because it is an expression not a
reality. The components of Europe – Africa – Asia is just a
location, a destination point for people of different geographical
setting. This is because activities borders on actions and
inactions of different states.
Jouice Fawcett (2005) noted that there is no Middle East
region that correspond to any existing institution in the world.
The short life and artificial nature of the state together with the
common bonds of language and religion among the Arab States
at least highlight aspects of Middle East constructivism.
Mid East and biased news coverage has less to do with the
ancient hatred based in Europe than it does with sheer
ignorance.
Some myth sax basic such as the erroneous belief that all
Middle Easterners are Arabs, all Arab are Muslims and all
Muslims are terrorists.
The myth about the state of Israel, it’s origin and it’s
actions have found their way into general discourse. Those who
seek to stand up for Israel need to recognise that many of the

38
problems that Israel has in getting it’s case across, stem from a
failure to debunk.

Lifting Sanctions on Iran will threaten Israel a myth

The Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned
that Iran will get hundreds of billions of dollars with which it will
it will be able to fuel it’s terror machine and by “terror
machine” Netanyahu is referring to the Hamas and Hezbollah –
lifting of sanction on Iran will unlikely amplify any threat these
two groups pose to Israel.
Lifting of sanctions can provide Hezbollah with more
Iranian and financial military support.
Sanction were in place on Iran during Israeli’s first Gaza
strip war in 2008, yet those sanctions did not damage the
ability of Iran to support Hamas.

It is a myth to state that Arab world has been

exceptionally backward:-
This is a racist and anti – muslim stereotype that has
wrongly received the force of a self – evident truth – which is
mostly due to the fact that it has been repeated ad infinitum.
Infact the Arab world resisted colonization by the
European powers longer and more effectively than any other
region. It was the last region to be annexed into the colonial
system after WWI and it was the first region to gain it’s full
freedom after WWII.

39
 Until the last 20 years, the Arab World vastly out –
stripped all of Sub – Saharan Africa in it’s development and rise
in prosperity. It is still far ahead of it.

It is also a myth to state that Middle East has the worst

Human Right Record in the World: - Because the horrific
dictatorship of Adolf Hitler of Germany, Joseph Stalin in the
Soviet Union and Mao Zeodong in China enslaved hundreds of
millions of people each. They brought terror and death to
slaves of millions across Europe and Asia. They did so on a
scale no Arab government ever dreamed of doing. Yes torture
were regularly used on the autocratic regimes in Mid East.
Racist myth that war in the Middle east is an inevitable
product of ancient and irrational hatred.

USA DEMOCRATIC PROMOTION IN MID-EAST

USA promotion of democracy in MENA region should be
seen in border context of the inter – development and USA
Agency for international development (USAID) place priority on
promoting democratic transition and good governance in
accordance with overall foreign policy objective.
USA foreign policy attitude towards democracy promotion
in MENA changed from 20th – 21st century.
1957 Eisenhower’s doctrine was the beginning of a policy
of American democracy promotion in the Middle East and North
Africa.
USA promotion of democracy in the M.E.N.A aims at
encouraging government and non – governmental actors in the

40
region to pursue political reforms that will lead ultimately to
democratic government. Mid East has been the subject of
increasing interest on the part of the American government and
democracy promoters particularly after the terrorist attack of
Sept 11th 2001. USA views democracy transition in MENA as
essential for regional stability and international security also it
is a means of promoting moderation and preventing terrorism.
USA effort to provide democracy in the region are
generally characterized by top – down and down – up
democratization strategies which can be pursued
simultaneously. The former top –down approach involves
putting rhetorical and diplomatic pressure on regimes to reform
and went as far as to involve direct American military
engagement in installing democratic government example
Bush presented USA involvement in Iraq as elements of
democracy promotion.
USA generally pursues the bottom – top approach by
finding international institutions that help strengthen the bases
for gradual democratic transition in the MENA region by offering
technical assistance and training to political parties and
electoral management bodies engaging with civil society.
Bush administration initiated “MEPI” Middle – East
Partnership Initiative in 2002 and Boarder Mid – East and North
Africa (BMENA) in partnership with group of eight in 2004 – USA
funded projects focusing on the civil society – emphasis on civil
society was based on the part of the belief that emerged after
9/11/2001 that absence of good governance allows “uncivil
society” thrive, and frustration that would be addressed non –

41
violently in a democratic system show themselves in the form
of terrorism – that’s the reason behind the USA Secretary of
State “Condolezza Rice” (Dec 2006) stating that democracy in
Middle East is non – negotiable.
Michele Dunne of USA also concur with the rhetoric of the
last Israeli prime minister Rabin that “USA foreign policy
position should be to “pursue peace as though there were no
democratization and to pursue democratization as though there
were no peace.
UN Arab Human Development Report on freedom (2004)
by Arab intellectuals states that freedom and democratic
government is essential to development of Arab countries –
therefore Arab world capacities to face up with internal and
external challenges depends on ending authoritarian reforms
and securing fundamental rights and freedom from USA.
Obama expressed a commitment to engage civil society
because the ultimate success of democracy in the world won’t
come because USA dictates it, rather it will come because
individual citizens demand a say in how they are governed. The
Middle East countries with democratic regions according to
Democracy Index published by freedom and Economist House
are : - Turkey, Israel, Kuwait, Morocco and Lebanon swhile
countries like Egypt, Iraqi and Tunisia are partly democratic –
the rest are authoritarian regions.
Albrecht Schnabel Theory : supports intervention of outside
countries such as USA in establishing democracy in MENA
because democracy in Mid – East must come from both below
and above

42
Lack of Democratization in the Middle East
1. According to Revisionist: Democracy is slightly
incompatible with Middle East values.
2. According to Edward Said: Relatively absence of liberal
democracy in the Middle East are diverse from the long
history of imperial rule by Ottoman Empire and Britain,
France and contemporary political/military invention by
the USA – all of which has been blamed for preferring
authoritarian regimes. Example USA participating in the
overthrown of democratic elected government in 1953
because of their interest in oil and fear of infast movement
soviet.
3. Some Opponents: of the democratization criticized that
democracy cannot be imposed from outside while resent
academic critics have characterized intervention in the
middle as a means forwards engendering democracy
failure.
4. Other analysts: States that lack of a market driver
economy in many mid-East countries undermines the
capacity to build the kind of individual autonomy and
power that help promote domically in middle east.
5. Poverty, Inequality and low literacy rates also
compromise peoples commitment to democratic
reforms.
6. Middle East and North Africa Saturation with Islam is also
another explanation for the regimes failure to
democratize.

43
7. Failure of democratization results from the power of the
state inspire by Skopcol’s work on revolution.
8. Belin States or argues that democratic transition can only
be carried out when the states coercive apparatus lack the
will to crush opponents.
9. Research states that conflict involvement has a direct
influence on the country’s prospects for democratization –
this is because Arab state has been directly involved in
some form of international conflict over the past decades.

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