North Africa & SW Asia Morocco Government- Constitutional Monarchy Religions- 98.7% Muslim Ethnic Groups- 99.1% Arab-Berber Economy- Farmers on coastal plains grow sugar beets, grains, fruits, and veggies. Many raise livestock. Leading producer of Phosphates. Souks- traditional marketplace Algeria Government- Republic Religion- 99% Sunni Muslim Ethnic Groups- Arab-Berber Economy- Natural Gas & Oil, struggling to diversify its economy beyond fossil fuels. Tunisia Government- Republic (following Revolution in 2011) Religion-98% Muslim Ethnic Groups- 98% Arab Economy- along fertile eastern region farmers grow wheat, olives, citrus, and veggies. Factories produce food, textiles, and oil products. Tunisia In January 2011 BEN ALI was overthrown, sending Tunisia's economy into a tailspin. As the economy recovers, Tunisia's government faces challenges reassuring businesses and investors, bringing budget and current account deficits under control, shoring up the country's financial system, bringing down high unemployment, and reducing economic disparities between the more developed coastal region and impoverished interior. Libya Government- Transitional government (Arab Spring) Religion- 97% Sunni Muslim Ethnic Groups- 97% Arab-Berber Economy- Most people live along Mediterranean coast. Oil, natural gas, and petroleum products major exports. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit agricultural output, and Libya imports about 80% of its food Egypt Government- Republic ( following Revolution in 2011) Religion- 90% Muslim Ethnic Groups- 99.6% Egyptian Economy- Very fertile land along Nile River, manufacturing, oil, and Phosphate. Dams give people control over the Niles floodwater and generate power TERMS: THEOCRACY RELIGIOUS leaders act on behalf of GOD to run the government RELIGIOUS leaders act on behalf of GOD to run the government Religious leaders decisions OUTWEIGH those made by ELECTED officials Religious leaders decisions OUTWEIGH those made by ELECTED officials Theres NO SEPARATION of church (religion) and state (government). Theres NO SEPARATION of church (religion) and state (government). TERMS: SHARIA ISLAMIC LAW based on the teachings of the QURAN (Muslim Holy Book) ISLAMIC LAW based on the teachings of the QURAN (Muslim Holy Book) Sharia can be INTERPRETED as a form of personal MORALITY, cultural NORMS or FOUNDATION for GOVERNMENT. Sharia can be INTERPRETED as a form of personal MORALITY, cultural NORMS or FOUNDATION for GOVERNMENT. ARAB SPRING ARAB SPRING A REVOLUTIONARY wave of demonstrations for DEMOCRACY and against DICTATORS occurring across much of the ARAB world that began in 2010 and is on-going in many Arab countries. A REVOLUTIONARY wave of demonstrations for DEMOCRACY and against DICTATORS occurring across much of the ARAB world that began in 2010 and is on-going in many Arab countries. Causes of the Arab Spring Causes of the Arab Spring No VOTE / No VOICE No VOTE / No VOICE REPRESSION by Government/ REPRESSION by Government/ Human RIGHTS Violations FAILING Economy / HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT FAILING Economy / HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT YOUNG POPULATION YOUNG POPULATION Government CORRUPTION Government CORRUPTION The Arab Spring protests have shared techniques of CIVIL RESISTANCE in sustained campaigns involving strikes, demonstrations, marches and rallies, as well as the use of SOCIAL MEDIA to organize, communicate, and raise awareness in the face of state attempts at repression and Internet CENSORSHIP & SPYING. Many Arab Spring demonstrations have met VIOLENT responses from authorities, as well as from pro-government militias and counter-demonstrators. Libya Egypt Many of the organizers of the protests were tracked down by secret police, ARRESTED, TORTURED and even EXECUTED for daring to SPEAK OUT against their dictator. A major slogan of the demonstrators in the Arab world has been ash-shab yurid isqat an-nizam ("the PEOPLE want to bring DOWN the REGIME"). What Next? Sharia? Democracy? Theocracy? Because the Arab Spring has NOT put forwards leaders to replace the dictators who were kicked out, it is UNCLEAR what kinds of governments will come to power... Because the Arab Spring has NOT put forwards leaders to replace the dictators who were kicked out, it is UNCLEAR what kinds of governments will come to power... People voting for the very first time in Tunisia Turkey Government- Republican parliamentary democracy Religion- 99.8% Muslim Ethnic Groups % Turkish Economy- Free market economy driven by industry and service sectors. Agriculture still accounts for 25% of employment. Iran Government- theocratic republic Religion- 98% Muslim Ethnic Groups- 51% Persian Economy- Oil is major source of revenue. Private section limited to small scale workshops, farming, and services. *Controlled Elections Iraq Government- Republic Religion- 97% Muslim Ethnic Groups-75-80% Arab Economy-90% of government revenue come from oil. As security increases, energy, construction, and retail businesses grow. Economic reform still needed. Kuwait Government- Constitutional Emirate Religion- 85% Muslim Ethnic Groups- 45% Kuwaiti Economy- Kuwait has a small, but wealthy, relatively open economy with crude oil reserves of about 102 billion barrels - about 7% of world reserves. Bahrain Government- Constitutional Monarchy Religion- 81.2% Muslim Ethnic Groups- 62.4% Bahraini Economy-Bahrain is one of the most diversified economies in the Persian Gulf. Highly developed communication and transport industries attract multinational businesses. Bahrain implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US in August 2006, the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. Bahrain's economy, however, continues to depend heavily on oil Qatar Government- Emirate Religion- 77.5% Muslim Ethnic Groups- 40% Arab Economy-Economic policy is focused on developing Qatar's natural gas reserves and increasing private and foreign investment in non-energy sectors, but oil and gas still account for more than 70% of revenues. Oil and gas have made Qatar the world's highest per-capita income country and the country with the lowest unemployment. Syria Government- Republic under a authoritarian regime, protest and calls for revolution happen daily. Refugees fleeing because of fighting between government forces and rebels Religion- 74% Sunni Muslim Ethnic Groups- 90.3% Arab Economy- suffering due to ongoing conflict, limited water supply, declining oil production Lebanon Government- Republic Religion- 59.7% Muslim Ethnic Groups- 95% Arab Economy- Lebanon has a free-market economy and a strong laissez-faire commercial tradition. Rebuilding economy after civil war ( ), struggling because unrest in neighboring Syria. Israel Government- Parliamentary Democracy Religion- 75.5% Jewish Ethnic Groups- 76.4% Jewish Economy-Israel has a technologically advanced market economy. Its major imports include crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and pharmaceuticals leading exports Jordan Government- Constitutional Monarchy; made minor reforms during Arab Spring to stop protest. Corruption has increased since King Abdullah II assumed throne in Religion- 92% Sunni Muslim Ethnic Groups- 98% Arab Economy- Jordan's economy is among the smallest in the Middle East, with insufficient supplies of water, oil, and other natural resources, underlying the government's heavy reliance on foreign assistance. Saudi Arabia Government- Monarchy (Islamic State) Religion- 100% Muslim Ethnic Groups- 90% Arab Economy- Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses the world's largest proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. Yemen Government- Republic Religion- Muslim Ethnic Groups- Arab Economy-Yemen is a low income country that is highly dependent on declining oil resources for revenue. Yemen has tried to counter the effects of its declining oil resources by diversifying its economy through an economic reform program initiated in 2006 that is designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. In October 2009, Yemen exported its first liquefied natural gas as part of this diversification effort Oman Government- Monarchy Religion- Ibadhi Muslim 75% Ethnic Groups- Arab Economy- Oman is heavily dependent on dwindling oil resources. Because of declining reserves and a rapidly growing labor force, Muscat has actively pursued a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization. Tourism and gas-based industries are key to this strategy. However, increases in social welfare benefits, particularly since the Arab Spring, will challenge the government's ability to effectively balance its budget if oil revenues decline. United Arab Emirates Government-Federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates Religion- 96% Muslim Ethnic Groups- Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50% Economy- The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Oil is essential. Global financial crisis in 2009 has slowed economic growth. Cyprus Government- Republic Religion- 78% Greek Orthodox Ethnic Groups- 77% Greek Economy- Tourism, financial services, and real estate are the most important sectors. Afghanistan Government- Islamic Republic Religion- 80% Sunni Muslim Ethnic Groups- 42% Pashtun Economy- Afghanistan's economy is recovering from decades of conflict. The economy has improved significantly since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 largely because of the infusion of international assistance, the recovery of the agricultural sector, and service sector growth. Despite the progress of the past few years, Afghanistan is extremely poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid.