The Middle EastModern Issues

Mr. MizakGlobal Studies

Fall 2009

The Force of Islamic Tradition

• Many Middle Eastern nations inherited elements of western culture– Replaced Islamic law with laws based on western

principles• Some Muslims saw westernization as a form

of colonialism• Demanded a return to Islamic traditions• Return to Shariah as basis of law

Extremism• Small minority in the

Muslim population has turned to terrorism

• Use terror and violence to promote values

• Holy struggle against enemies of Islam

• Why target the United States?– New form of imperialism– Aiding of Israel

Oil

• The Middle East has 60% of the world’s oil reserves

• Clear division between oil rich countries and their neighbors

• Using profits from oil, countries have increased the standard of living for their people

• Oil remains an area of great concern for the global community

OPEC• In 1960, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait,

and Saudi Arabia joined Venezuela to form the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

• Goal= end western oil companies’ power over prices

• Regularly meet to decide how much oil to produce and at what price to sell

Women’s Lives• Status of women vary from

country to country• In conservative areas,

women must be veiled when they leave their homes

• In others, women walk along the streets freely

• Women are responsible for housework and child care

Burqa

Arab- Israeli Conflict

• At the end of WWII many called for the creation of a Jewish state. (To make up for the Holocaust)

• Palestinian Arabs opposed losing any of their homeland

• In 1947 the UN partitioned Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state.

• The Arab world saw Israel as a creation of the western powers who wanted to dominate the Middle East.