MIDDLE EAST POLITICAL MOVEMENTS MIDDLE EAST POLITICAL MOVEMENTS

1920s ARAB WORLD IS UNDER CONTROL OF EUROPEAN POWERS ARAB WORLD IS UNDER CONTROL OF EUROPEAN POWERS REGARDED AS BETRAYAL OF PROMISES REGARDED AS BETRAYAL OF PROMISES WESTERN CULTURAL INFLUENCES: SOME ARABS ADOPT THEM, OTHERS ARE REPELLED WESTERN CULTURAL INFLUENCES: SOME ARABS ADOPT THEM, OTHERS ARE REPELLED

ARAB NATIONALISM

INDEPENDENCE Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser becomes most charismatic leader of Arab world in Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser becomes most charismatic leader of Arab world in Defies West by seizing Suez Canal Defies West by seizing Suez Canal Anti-Israel Anti-Israel Leader of neutral countries in Cold War- gets aid from USSR when US refuses it. Leader of neutral countries in Cold War- gets aid from USSR when US refuses it.

ATTEMPTS AT UNITY Union of Syria and Egypt in Union of Syria and Egypt in Union of Syria and Iraq in Union of Syria and Iraq in Both break up because of bickering Both break up because of bickering over power. over power.

BA’ATH MOVEMENT Started by three Syrian intellectuals in early 1940s Started by three Syrian intellectuals in early 1940s Michel Aflaq, right, an Orthodox Christian Michel Aflaq, right, an Orthodox Christian Believe in nonviolently opposing both colonialists and native aristocrats Believe in nonviolently opposing both colonialists and native aristocrats Advocates pan-Arab nationalism, socialism, is strictly secular Advocates pan-Arab nationalism, socialism, is strictly secular

BA’ATH continued Name means “Arab Renaissance” or “Rebirth” Name means “Arab Renaissance” or “Rebirth” Hope is to unite all Arab states as one Arab nation. Hope is to unite all Arab states as one Arab nation.

1963 BA’ATHISTS TAKE OVER IN SYRIA AND IRAQ Iraqi President Kassem assasinated Iraqi President Kassem assasinated Military coup in Syria Military coup in Syria

ASSAD Hafez Assad, a military officer, eventually comes to power in Syria. Hafez Assad, a military officer, eventually comes to power in Syria. Today, his son Bashar is President. Today, his son Bashar is President. Ruthlessly destroys any attempt at rebellion – Hama, 1982 – 10-20,000 fundamentalists and civilians killed Ruthlessly destroys any attempt at rebellion – Hama, 1982 – 10-20,000 fundamentalists and civilians killed Is an Alawite Shi’ite in a Sunni country Is an Alawite Shi’ite in a Sunni country State-sponsored terrorism State-sponsored terrorism

SADDAM HUSSEIN Member of Iraq’s ruling council from 1968 on. Member of Iraq’s ruling council from 1968 on. Comes to full power in Comes to full power in Ruthlessly suppresses any signs of rebellion, esp. Kurds and Shi’ites Ruthlessly suppresses any signs of rebellion, esp. Kurds and Shi’ites Is a Sunni Muslim in a Shi’ite majority country Is a Sunni Muslim in a Shi’ite majority country

WHAT HAPPENED TO BA’ATH MOVEMENT’S PROMISE? WHAT HAPPENED TO BA’ATH MOVEMENT’S PROMISE? IT PRODUCED DICTATORS AND “ROGUE STATES” IT PRODUCED DICTATORS AND “ROGUE STATES” BA’ATH PARTIES IN IRAQ AND SYRIA SPLIT, BECAME ENEMIES BA’ATH PARTIES IN IRAQ AND SYRIA SPLIT, BECAME ENEMIES

RISE OF ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM ISLAM IS A POLITICAL RELIGION ISLAM IS A POLITICAL RELIGION ISLAM SHOULD BE GUIDE OF STATE ISLAM SHOULD BE GUIDE OF STATE SHARIA or ISLAMIC LAW SHOULD BE THE SOURCE OF LAWS SHARIA or ISLAMIC LAW SHOULD BE THE SOURCE OF LAWS

FIRST FUNDAMENTALIST STATE IRAN IRAN IRANIAN REVOLUTION – 1979 IRANIAN REVOLUTION – 1979 BRINGS CLERICS TO POWER BRINGS CLERICS TO POWER US is “GREAT SATAN” US is “GREAT SATAN” USSR is not much better. USSR is not much better. HOWEVER, IRAN IS SHI’ITE - influence doesn’t spread immediately to Sunni areas. HOWEVER, IRAN IS SHI’ITE - influence doesn’t spread immediately to Sunni areas.

STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISM Iran sponsors Hezbollah (“Party of God”) in Lebanon, which takes American hostages Iran sponsors Hezbollah (“Party of God”) in Lebanon, which takes American hostages Today it is involved with helping the Palestinians also, although few of them are Shi’ites Today it is involved with helping the Palestinians also, although few of them are Shi’ites Iran interested in spreading its influence as a dominant power in the region, rivalling Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia Iran interested in spreading its influence as a dominant power in the region, rivalling Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia It does this by opposing Israel and US It does this by opposing Israel and US

SPREAD OF FUNDAMENTALISM Saudi Arabia sponsors Wahhabi schools and radio broadcasts around the world Saudi Arabia sponsors Wahhabi schools and radio broadcasts around the world Pakistan adopts sharia law in Pakistan adopts sharia law in Rise of Taliban in Afghanistan in Rise of Taliban in Afghanistan in

MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD Founded in Egypt in Founded in Egypt in Opposed to Western influences Opposed to Western influences Stresses brotherhood of Muslims Stresses brotherhood of Muslims Has spawned most Islamic terrorist organizations. Has spawned most Islamic terrorist organizations. Today, is a peaceful political party in Egypt. Today, is a peaceful political party in Egypt.

SAYYID QUTB Leading theorist of Islamic fundamentalism Leading theorist of Islamic fundamentalism Born in Egypt Born in Egypt Member of Muslim Brotherhood Member of Muslim Brotherhood Earned doctorate in US Earned doctorate in US Totally repulsed by American lifestyles Totally repulsed by American lifestyles Arrested by Egyptian authorities Arrested by Egyptian authorities His published works are still popular His published works are still popular

ASSASSINATION OF SADAT Muslim Brotherhood gunmen kill President Sadat of Egypt – Why? Muslim Brotherhood gunmen kill President Sadat of Egypt – Why?

AMONG THOSE ARRESTED: Ayman al-Zawahiri, Egyptian doctor, student of Qutb, member of Islamic Jihad offshoot of Muslim Brothers Ayman al-Zawahiri, Egyptian doctor, student of Qutb, member of Islamic Jihad offshoot of Muslim Brothers Now second-in- command of al- Qaeda Now second-in- command of al- Qaeda

AL QAEDA – “THE NETWORK” LOOSELY KNIT GROUP FUNDED BY BIN LADEN AND ZAWAHIRI LOOSELY KNIT GROUP FUNDED BY BIN LADEN AND ZAWAHIRI WANTS TO RESTORE CALIPHATE WANTS TO RESTORE CALIPHATE UNITE ALL MUSLIMS – PAN-ISLAMIC UNITE ALL MUSLIMS – PAN-ISLAMIC MAIN GOAL IS TO OVERTHROW ARAB GOVTS IT REGARDS AS CORRUPT AND AS SPONSORS OF WESTERNIZATION MAIN GOAL IS TO OVERTHROW ARAB GOVTS IT REGARDS AS CORRUPT AND AS SPONSORS OF WESTERNIZATION USE OF TERROR – JUSTIFIED SINCE AMERICAN TROOP PRESENCE IN SAUDI ARABIA DEFILES HOLY GROUND USE OF TERROR – JUSTIFIED SINCE AMERICAN TROOP PRESENCE IN SAUDI ARABIA DEFILES HOLY GROUND USE WESTERN WEAPONS AGAINST WEST USE WESTERN WEAPONS AGAINST WEST EXPLOIT VULNERABILITIES OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACIES EXPLOIT VULNERABILITIES OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACIES

HAMAS Palestinian offshoot of Muslim Brotherhood – doesn’t believe Israel has a right to exist. Palestinian offshoot of Muslim Brotherhood – doesn’t believe Israel has a right to exist. Main group carrying out suicide bombings Main group carrying out suicide bombings Won elections last year to take over Palestinian Authority Won elections last year to take over Palestinian Authority Presently in conflict with PLO Presently in conflict with PLO

WOULD BA’ATHISTS AND FUNDAMENTALISTS BE LIKELY TO GET ALONG?