1. The Middle East in Transition
1. Pan-Arabism
2. Governments in the Middle East
3. Islamic Fundamentalism
4. Importance of Oil
5. Iran, Turkey, & Egypt – 3 Nations on the road to Modernization

2. Pan-Arabism Definition: Why?
The idea or support of a political partnership or union of all the Arab nations
Why?
By 1950, many Middle Eastern countries still felt the effects of western rule and wanted to end the growing influence of western culture.

3. Pan-Arabism (continued)
Goals
1. To unite ALL Arabs based on language & culture
2. To promote Arab unity – created the Arab League in 1945
3. To help the Arab world grow economically and culturally, and to resolve conflicts

4. Pan-Arabism (con’t) Obstacles
State nationalism proved to be stronger than Arab unity
Too many ethnic & religious differences
Gap between rich and poor

5. Government in the Middle East
Republic – A political order whose head of state is not a monarch, and in modern times is usually a president (Egypt, Iraq, Iran)
Monarchies – Supreme power or sovereignty held by a single person (Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait)
Multiparty States – of or pertaining to more than two political parties with free elections (Turkey, Israel)
Islamic Law – the code of law derived from the Koran and from the teachings and example of Mohammed: “Sharia is only applicable to Muslims”; “under Islamic law there is no separation of church and state” (Saudi Arabia, Iran)

6. Islamic Fundamentalism
Has been gaining momentum in recent decades.
Opposes secular (non-religious) and Western influences.
Sharia law: strict interpretation of Islamic law found in the Koran
Organizations: the Taliban, Al Qaeda, ISIS (aka ISIL, Daesh)

7. Importance of Oil in the Middle East
The Middle East has 60% of the world’s oil reserves.
Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, and several small states along the Persian Gulf are rich in oil.
Huge profits from oil, BUT large gap between rich and poor

8. OPEC OPEC: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
1973: Arab countries attacked Israelis. Arab countries stopped selling oil to them and their allies, including the United States. This is called an oil embargo. Results:
Oil shortage caused prices to rise greatly
US gov’t worked harder to promote peace between Israel and Arab nations
1990s: new oil sources away from Middle East, new energy sources (gas, coal, nuclear, wind, solar) weakened OPEC’s power
Video: OPEC, DiscoveryEd, 3:13

9. Iran

10. The History of Iran
Iran is not an Arab country. The language spoken there is Persian (Farsi).
The rule of Shah Reza Pahlavi: 1941 – 1979.
1943 – Tehran Conference
President FDR, Churchill, and Stalin recognize Iran’s independence and provided economic assistance.
Iran was named “Bridge to Victory” since it was previously used to transport war materials to support the Soviets in WW2.

11. The History of Iran continued
1947 – Iran and the US signed an agreement for the US to provide military aid and train the Iranian army.
1953 – 1963 – Iran’s increased dependence on
The oil industry
US economic and military aid
Western alliance
1964 – Ayatollah Khomeini (the leader of the Islamic Republic) spoke out against the Shah, and was exiled to Turkey before being allowed to move to Iraq for many years (1964 – 1978).

12. The History of Iran continued
1970 – 1975 – US number one buyer of oil from Iran.
Jimmy Carter (US pres.) called Iran “an island of stability” amid a region (Middle East) full of turmoil.
February 1979 – Khomeini’s return to Iran.

13. Islamic Revolution in Iran
Khomeini led the 1979 Iranian Revolution (aka the Islamic Revolution)
Iranian Revolution (4:52)
Iran Under Shah Reza Pahlavi
Iran Under Ayatollah Khomeini
Monarchy
Theocratic republic
Pro-western
Anti-western
Secular (non-religious)
Sharia law

14. Iranian Hostage Crisis
November 1979 – Hostages were taken from the US Embassy in Tehran.
April 1980 – US attempt to rescue hostages fails.
January 1981 – Hostages were released, minutes after President Reagan’s inauguration.
Video – DiscoveryEd – “Americans are Held Hostage” (3:27)

15. Iran-Iraq War Took place 1980-1988
Began when Iraq’s leader, Saddam Hussein, declared war.
Methods: ballistic missile attacks on cities, chemical weapons
Video: Iran-Iraq War, DiscoveryEd, 5:06
Video: End to Iran-Iraq War, DiscoveryEd, 2:13

16. 20th/21st Century US Relations with Iran
1995: As a result of alleged Iranian sponsorship of international terrorism and her active pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, President Clinton issued on Executive Order prohibiting U.S. involvement with petroleum development in Iran.
January 2002 – President George W. Bush refers to Iran, Iraq, and North Korea in his State of the Union Address as an “Axis of Evil”, countries that have come to be identified with terrorist activities and seeking weapons of mass destruction.
US President Bush State of the Union Speech 2002 (3:01)

17. 20th/21st Century US Relations with Iran
2015 – Agreement between Iran and major world powers to reduce nuclear activity and allow inspections of nuclear facilities. In return, economic sanctions against Iran will be lifted.
Iran Nuclear Deal Explained (3:06)

18. Turkey

19. A Brief History of Turkey
By 1923, Kemal Ataturk overthrows the sultan, abolished the Ottoman Empire, and made Turkey a republic.
Modernized Turkey: women’s rights, economic reforms, secular law, started a newspaper, set up public schools, many western ideas, etc. .
Many Muslims unhappy with these changes (took away from the value of the religion and its strict laws)

20. 20th Century Turkey
Turkey links the worlds of the Middle East. Turkey’s location also gives it control of the vital shipping routes that connect the Black and Mediterranean Seas.
During the Cold War, Turkey developed economic and military ties with Western Europe. Turkey was a member of NATO, a western military alliance.
Turkey has the largest population of any country in the Middle East.
Turks take pride in their history, language, and culture originating from the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey has one of the most balanced economies in the Middle East.
Turkey faces issues with the civil war in Syria, battling ISIS, and the migrant crisis in the Middle East and Europe.

21. Egypt

22. Egyptian Economic Policies
In the 1950s, President Nasser’s goal was to redistribute land to poor families and increase the wages of urban workers.
Building of the Aswan High Dam, which allowed Egypt to irrigate more farmland, control Nile flooding, and produce low-cost hydroelectric power for factories and homes.
Nasser nationalized industries and took control of foreign-owned businesses, including the Suez Canal, a strategic waterway.
Video: Suez Crisis, DiscoveryEd, 4:18