Jaimin Patel
History 181: Intro to the Middle East
Professor Ghazvinian
September 21, 2017
Imagine you are travelling through the Middle East in the 1930s. Which nations or states would you describe as “most likely to succeed” and which would you describe as least likely? Why? I think traveling through the Middle East in the 1930 would be quite interesting because I would love to see how the people of the Middle East reacted to the mandate system implemented in 1920.
I think Turkey would be one of the countries that are most likely to succeed because in the years immediately following World War I they casted out their previous monarchy and attempted to sort of set up a Democracy. Although President Ataturk had dictorial powers like
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One thing that made him different from a traditional monarch was he was committed to making his country stronger and shifting to westernization rather than talking about it. For example, when he made money off his private landholdings he built hotels, casinos, and charitable foundations which proved his view on making Iran more economically industrial.
A country I think would be least likely to succeed is Egypt because they faced a partial Great Depression at the time of 1930’s. The main reason why they were hit by the depression was because they depended heavily on its export of cotton. Cottons price was dropping significantly. Plus, they were still being manipulated by Britain although they declared independence. For example, the British government remained responsible for the security of imperial communications in Egypt, the defense of Egypt against foreign aggression or interference, the protection of foreign interests and foreign minorities in Egypt. In 1936 Britain proposed to keep a defense force in Egypt to protect the Suez Canal. Which in turn left Britain also in charge of Sudan. Sudan was one of the most important parts in the nation of Egypt. The fact that Britain was still trying to manipulate them like that meant this agreement wasn’t mutually beneficial. These factors can keep Egypt behind other independent countries in the 1930’s.
Another country I feel like is least likely to succeed is Iraq, because during the 1930’s they were still
Germany. It failed, because of the disorganization, lack of men, and the fact that even the few
The role of the Middle East has been very crucial to the United States, especially after WWII. The U.S. had three strategic goals in the Middle East and consistently followed them throughout various events that unfolded in the region. First, with the emergence of the cold war between the Soviet Union and the U.S., policymakers began to recognize the importance of the Middle East as a strategic area in containing Soviet influence. This also coincides with the U.S. becoming increasingly wary of Arab nationalism and the threat it posed to U.S. influence. Secondly, the emergence of the new Israeli state in 1948 further deepened U.S. policy and involvement in the region while also creating friction between the U.S. and Arab states which were
Throughout American history wars have played a huge part. From the start of the country to the present wars have played a lagrge part in shaping America into the national power that it is today. Not only is America the most pwerful nation in thwe world but it is also the policeman for the entire world, making and checking up on the world and all the interactions of foreign countries worldwide. Being born in born in the early eighties prohibitied me from experiencing many of the Americas war firsthand. This however changed early in the 1990's.
strongest countries were built on the principles of Communism, such as the USSR. It came to
The Ottoman Empire and the Qing Dynasty both had their chance at being a world superpower in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. Like all empires, there were times of prosperity and times of despair. In 1908 and 1912, the Ottoman Empire and Qing Dynasty began to deteriorate, losing their dominance over other rising dominions through internal and external conflicts. Although both powers had similar patters of decline, it was the differences that distinguished the fall of the Ottomans in the west and the Qing in the east.
Edmund Burke once said “Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it.” Unfortunately, it seems that many people who have impacted the world have had a bad history teacher, as history continues to repeat itself to this day. One of the most prime examples of this is seen in the Middle East; where the Palestinian people are fighting against the Israelis over territory in which they both believe belongs to them. It has been a dispute which has resulted in loss of homes, loss of life and loss of money. However, this is nothing new. Eugene O’Neill’s statement, “There is no present and no future, only the past happening over and over again, now” applies strongly to the situation of the past 70 years in the
The Persian Gulf War all started because of one country’s greed for oil. Iraq accused Kuwait of pumping oil and not sharing the benfits, and Kuwait was pumping more oil than allowed under quotas set by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, it decreased the price of oil, Iraq's main export. Iraq's complaints against Kuwait grew more and more harsh, but they were mostly about money. When Iraqi forces began to assemble near the Kuwaiti border in the summer of 1990, several Arab states tried to intervene the dispute. Kuwait didn’t want to look weak so they didn’t ask for any help from the United States or other non-Arab powers for support. Arab mediators convinced Iraq and Kuwait to negotiate their differences in Saudi Arabia, on
There will never be peace in the Middle East. The idea of peace in a certain region is a silly notion. What region has truly ever known peace? Allow me to rephrase my thesis: There will never be peace in the Middle East as long as western powers intervene into Arab affairs. It is common knowledge that throughout history western powers have colonized, occupied, and exploited indigenous people in the name of national interest, national security, and manifest destiny. The Middle East is not exempt. It started with British intervention into Egyptian affairs, controlling the Suez Canal in the name of national interest, then the deposing of an elected government in Iran to stop the western-controlled oil companies
The United States has had some international issues with Middle Eastern countries in the past. It goes without saying; the most recent is the current gulf war led by George W. Bush and of course the previous gulf war led by his father George H.W. Bush. With neighboring Iran, there have been quarrels such as the Iran-Contra affair. This involved a political scandal in which Ronald Reagan's administration sold military arms to Iran. At this time they were in the midst of the Iran-Iraq War, while the United States had hostages held in Lebanon by Hezbollah. The United States hoped that Iran would influence Hezbollah to release the American hostages, but didn't. Finally, with Saudi Arabia also part of the Middle East, the United States
James Joyce’s short story Araby delves into the life of a young adolescent who lives on North Richmond Street in Dublin, Ireland. Narrated in the boys’ perspective, he recounts memories of playing with friends and of the priest who died in the house before his family moved in. With unrestrained enthusiasm, the boy expresses a confused infatuation with the sister of his friend Mangan. She constantly roams his thoughts and fantasies although he only ever catches glimpses of her. One evening she speaks to him, confiding that she is unable to visit Araby, a bazaar. Stunned by the sudden conversation, the boy promises he will go and bring her back a small memento. In anticipation, the boy launches into a period of restless waiting and distraction
Historians, specifically American historians of the 21st century have demonstrated an interest in the Middle East in Islam, due to Americans frequent contact with the Middle East in the early 1960s. Islam and the Middle East have played a remarkable role in Americans discussion and reaction to the events that took place on September 11th, 2001. During this time Americans were beginning to regard the Middle East, Muslims, and Islam as one entity. Americans and the world regarded the Middle East as Islam and Islam as the Middle East. Thus, this correlation between the two made Muslims say Muslim Americans and Muslims in America as less western and more of another, but they were also seen as untrustworthy individuals. Additionally, prior to the September 11th, attacks and an after effect of September 11, was that Muslim men were violent and Muslim women as oppressed individuals. Thus, the perception of Islamophobia and the threat it brings to western society has impacted the discussion of Islamophobia in America.
Today, there are virtually no multinational states remaining and one would be hard-pressed to find a government that has remained in place since the pre-World War I era. In that sense, it is highly unlikely that the Ottoman Empire could have survived the tumultuous 20th Century. Nevertheless, it may have had a chance. If not for European intervention, Ottoman reforms may have succeeded. However, even with those reforms, they had to compete with the rise of nationalism, which would have been difficult.
Syriana is a movie revolving around the many facets of US – Middle East relations. The movie is split into various plot lines to identify roots of Islamic Militancy and Terrorism in the Middle East, prospects of democracy and full self-determination and the varying effects of current US policy.
and trade for thousands of years. It has also been on the route of numerous
Additionally, technology level is unsatisfied and far behind from other developing regions. Education, judiciary system, political structure and property rights of Middle East and North Africa countries are generally not scheduled in agreement with requirements of high knowledge, technology, skill and talent of labours. This decline over the course of history can be related with choice of development strategies in MENA region.