1. Development of the social, political and economic institutions in West Asia

2. Social institutions Predominantly Islamic, prominent sects are the Sunnis and Shi’as Other faiths, including Christianity and Judaism, are also present Greek Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox

3. Political institutions Most have monarchial and republican type of government Three of the last six absolute monarchies (Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia) One of two strict theocracies (Iran)

4. List of West Asian States and their Capitals CountryCapitalType of government TurkeyIstanbul Parliamentary republic BahrainManama Constitutional monarchy KuwaitKuwait City Constitutional monarchy OmanMuscat Absolute monarchy QatarDoha Absolute monarchy Saudi ArabiaRiyadh Absolute monarchy United Arab EmiratesAbu Dhabi Federal Constitutional monarchy YemenSana’a Presidential republic ArmeniaYerevan Presidential republic AzerbaijanBaku Presidential republic GeorgiaTbilisi Semi-presidential republic

5. List of West Asian States and their Capitals CountryCapitalType of government IraqBaghdad Parliamentary republic IsraelJerusalem Parliamentary republic JordanAmman Constitutional monarchy LebanonBeirut Parliamentary republic PalestineJerusalem Presidential republic SyriaDamascus Presidential republic IranTehran Islamic republic CyprusNicosiaPresidential republic

6. International relations Most countries are with the United Nations, with the primary exception of Palestine. Palestine is an observer to the United Nations. Arab League CIS OPEC EU

7. Arab League Officially called League of Arab States Regional organization of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and West Asia (Middle East) Formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 Currently has 22 members and 4 observers West Asian member states include Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. جامعة الدول العربية Jāmi ʻ at ad-Duwal al- ʻ Arabiyya

8. Commonwealth of Independent States Regional organization with former Soviet Republics as members Formed after breakup of Soviet Union West Asian former and current member states include Armenia, and Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Содружество Независимых Государств (СНГ) Sodruzhestvo Nezavisimykh Gosudarstv (SNG)

9. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Intergovernmental organization of twelve developing, oil-exporting countries collectively hold 79% of world crude oil reserves and 44% of the world’s crude oil production West Asian member states include Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates

10. Organization of Islamic Cooperation International organization consisting of 57 member states Has permanent delegation to the United Nations West Asian member states include Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Azerbaijan

11. Economic institutions Very diverse economies, from socialist to free market types Primarily revolves around crude oil and its refined forms, although tourism and industrial ventures also contribute Growth is four times faster than world average 3 of the top 10 Asian countries by GDP 2 in top 20 world countries by GDP

12. List of West Asian states by GDP per capita RankCountry GDP Per Capita GDP (PPP) Total ($US B) 1Qatar$ 121,700$ 101.2 2Kuwait$ 54,100$ 150.2 3United Arab Emirates$ 42,000$ 200.4 4Bahrain$ 38,400$ 28 5Israel$ 28,400$ 205.2 6Oman$ 23,900$ 69.43 7Cyprus$ 21,200$ 22.85 8Saudi Arabia$ 20,400$ 581.3 9Lebanon$ 13,100$ 46.03 10Iran$ 12,900$ 876

13. List of West Asian states by GDP per capita RankCountry GDP Per Capita GDP (PPP) Total ($US B) 11Turkey$ 15,392$ 1118.6 12Azerbaijan$ 10,000$ 74.8 13Armenia$ 6,400$ 18.92 14Egypt$ 6,000$ 470.4 15Jordan$ 5,300$ 33.06 16Syria$ 4,600$ 102.5 17Georgia$ 4,500$ 20.75 18Iraq$ 3,600$ 96.6 19West Bank$ 2,900$ N/A 20Yemen$ 2,500$ 58.2 21Gaza Strip$ 2,494$ N/A