Middle East: Changing Economic and Social Patterns

What causes economic and social change in the Middle East?

Modernization Four Goals Changes in a nation that enable it to set up a stable government and produce a high level of goods and services

1. After independence a major goal of Middle Eastern nations was to reduce European economic influences. Socialism: a system in which the government owns and operates major businesses and controls other parts of the economy – nationalized industries: acquisition and operation of a business formerly owned privately/foreign owned =mixed successes Today: Government takes leading role: directing economic growth and privatized some nationalized industries

2. Population growth poses a challenge to modernization in the Middle East. Population explosion has strained resources: limited farmland and water Family planning program initiated by gov’t

3. Governments have worked to modernized agriculture in the Middle East. goal to increase cash crop output = increase income new water supplies – Irrigation; desalination plants, Aswan High Dam Land reform: redistribution of land Green Revolution: use of technology to improve agriculture

4. Oil has played an important role in the Middle East. near 60% of world’s oil reserves – some nations have prospered – unevenly distributed Guest workers OPEC: influences world markets (cartel) formed to control production, competition, and prices Helps nations modernize US and Foreign Oil Link

5. Middle Eastern cities have undergone rapid growth. urbanization because of population explosion and hope for better life Youth adapt better to the change in customs from rural to city – Generational conflict compete for limited jobs shantytowns

Slums of Ein El Sira

6. The status of women in Middle Eastern societies is changing. Varies new opportunities in cities: work/education Choose between economic opportunities and loyalty to traditional ways of life

Varies Show 60 Minutes DVD Saudi Women – 13 mins 2015: women are supposed to be given right o vote and hold local office Bikes and Saudi Women Video 2mins Malala - Videos Daily Show (16 mins) - NY Times Religious Police Article – Dare to Drive TED Behind the Veil: What Life Is REALLY Like for Women in the Middle East – Link to video – Abroad – 7 minutes Saudi women Struggle Website – Driving Ban Link No woman No Drive Saudi suffragettes: Women register to vote for the first time in Saudi Arabia – Article Link – Link 2015 Obstacles to Saudi women Registering – Link - 2016 As Saudi Arabia's Love Of Online Gaming Grows, Developers Bloom – Link For Young Saudi Women, Video Games Offer Self-Expression - link

More Resources Saudi Women vote in election for first time with a few videos: 2015 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35075702 After election: What is the future for Saudi Women? Several articles http://www.npr.org/2015/12/19/459491653/after-historic-elections-in-saudi-arabia-whats-the-future-for-women Saudi Arabia strips religious police of arrest power http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/14/middleeast/saudi-arabia-religious-police-powers/

7. Middle Eastern nations have placed great emphasis on education. since 1950’s: great progress Oil money helped More boys than girls More urban than rural Population explosion strains on educational resources essential to a nation’s population to reduce economic dependence on the West and promote modernization

What caused the economic and social changes in the Middle East? Modernization