T HE M ODERN M IDDLE E AST D EVELOPS 1940s-1970’s

T HE P EOPLE Majority are Arab Arabs are not the same as Muslims Iranians are not Arabs Dominant religion is Muslim Minority population of Jews (except in Israel), Christians and others About 25% of the world’s Muslims are Arab

I NFLUENCES Southwest Asia (Middle East) is the cross- roads of three continents It has been the world’s most vibrant trading center for thousands of years Influences from Africa, Asia and Europe are evident Religion plays a HUGE role in everyday life Some countries are more secular, but none like the U.S.

D IVERSITY B RINGS C HALLENGE

K URDS S EEK F REEDOM Homeland divided among Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey at the end of WWI Minority in every country Face severe discrimination Major tensions in Turkey Kurdish rebels fought for freedom from Turkey beginning in 1960’s 1970’s, it was illegal to speak Kurdish language in Turkey Kurdish language legalized in 1991 Brutal treatment in Iraq

I SRAEL IS F OUNDED British supported Jewish national homeland in Palestine Holocaust added worldwide support U.N. drew up a plan to divide Palestine between Arab and Jews Britain withdrew from Palestine Jewish proclaimed an independent state Israel developed rapidly Skilled, educated work force Formed Kubbutzim- collective farm Arab states launched several unsuccessful attacks

Jews moved to Israel from all areas of the world In 1948, wars caused 100,000 Palestinian refugees to flee Israeli territory Many Jews fled from Arab lands

P OLITICAL S YSTEMS L IMIT F REEDOM

Autocratic governments (one person possesses unlimited power) rule in most independent Middle East nations after WWII Militaristic Leaders Hereditary Monarchs Jordan & Saudi Arabia The only stable, multiparty democratic systems (until 2005) Turkey and Israel

O IL E QUALS P OWER

S TRATEGIC I MPORTANCE OF M IDDLE E AST Major oil reserves Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and U.A.E. All are members of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) OPEC blocked oil shipments to U.S. Triggered a worldwide recession Since the 1970’s, OPEC focused more on regulating the price of oil, not taking political stands

I SLAM C ONFRONTS M ODERN W ORLD

E VERY M IDDLE E AST N ATION R ESPONDS D IFFERENTLY … Some adopt Western economics, government, and/or law For many people, life does not improve Islamists= conservative reformers Blame Western ways for region’s problems