Most contemporary problems in Middle East and North Africa stem from two conditions: 1. Boundaries and borders created by colonial powers 2. Strategic importance of region to political and economic interests of core countries To review from last lecture:

The Transformative Power of Petroleum in Middle East and North Africa The study of petroleum provides an example of how places become interconnected politically and environmentally through the movements of commodities. It also shows us the promises and perils of petroleum wealth. Oil fires in Iraq, 2003

Why aren’t Middle Eastern and North African countries part of the core?

GDP, Oil, Single Commodity Economies in Middle East and North Africa

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) OPEC Members Algeria Angola (as of 2007) Ecuador Iran Iraq Kuwait Libya Nigeria Qatar Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates Venezuela

Global Petroleum Flows

Major Petroleum Flows

What is this place? A case study in the rapid transformation of a country.

Geographic coordinates: N, E Area – comparative: slightly smaller than Maine Land use: arable land: 0.77% permanent crops: 2.27% other: 96.96% (2005) What kind of climate and physical geography can you predict from these pieces of information? Source: CIA World Fact Book

Sex ratio: number of males for every 1 female at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: male(s)/female years: male(s)/female 65 years and over: male(s)/female total population: 2.19 male(s)/female (2007 est.) Age Structure: years: 78.5% (male 2,558,029/female 932,617) 73.9% (2010 est) Population Growth Rate: 4 th highest in the world Birth Rate: 124 th highest in the world What is odd about the following demographic data for this particular country?

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 77.9% male: 76.1% female: 81.7% (2003 est.) Life Expectancy at Birth: Total population: years male: years female: years (2007 est.) Some more information about this country:

CountryGDP RankGDP (CIA)2010 Luxembourg180,800 Qatar275,900 Norway355,600 Kuwait455,300 Country X555,20021 st, 40,200 US746,000 Rep of Ireland845,600 Equit. Guinea944,100 Japan2633,800 GDP Rankings for 2007 by Central Intelligence Agency GDP Ranking of “Country X” and other top GDP Countries, 2007

What Country Is This?

Dubai An emirate in UAE, also name of a city Photo: Maggie Steber, National Geographic Photo: Wikipedia

Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan خليفة بن زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان President of OAE in office since 2004 Succeeded his father, the former president United Arab Emirates A federation of 7 emirates Founded in 1971 Much of its economy has been based on oil and natural gas exports however…. It now has the third most diversified economy of the region

This country has transformed itself in the last 35 years: Culturally Economically Demographically And It has LITERALLY RESHAPED itself and its image in the world. Consider these construction projects:

Photo: Municipality of Dubai Obtained: National Geographic Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road Early 1990s.

Photo: Maggie Steber National Geographic Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road Today

A World’s Tallest Building Competition Will it be Al Burj ? or Burj Dubai? Burj Dubai, September 16, 2009

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Eighth Wonder of the World Photograph by Maggie Steber The Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island whose fronds offer beachfront lots for 4,000 villas and apartments, juts audaciously into the Persian Gulf. Dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World, the development has doubled Dubai's 45-mile (72 kilometers) shoreline, but has also disrupted its coastal ecosystem. (Text: National Geographic)

Atlantis, The Palm Opened Sept 2008 Go to a Meeting, Swim with Dolphins, Splash in the Aquaventure Water Park! According to Wikipedia, The Jonas Brothers, Sir Richard Burton, Robert DeNiro, Michael Jordan, Denzel Washington, Janet Jackson, and Sarah, Duchess of York all attended the Grand Opening, which featured more fireworks than the opening of the Beijing Olympics.

The Palm Islands How are they made? 3 artificial islands Each made of 1 billion cubic meters of dredged sand and stone (from seabed and mountains) The complex houses a variety of tourist attractions, ranging from spas and diving sites to apartments and theaters. The entire complex is designed to collectively resemble a date palm tree when seen from the sky. (Business Week) Photo: Getty Images

Villas on the Jumeira Palm Island in Dubai. The Palm Jumeirah, a 12-square mile island group took 5 years to raise from millions of tons of Persian Gulf sand and quarried rock. Source: Daily News June 2007

Sports City

The Dynamic Tower

World!The World! On hold… global financial crisis

Staying Afloat Photograph by Maggie Steber For laborers at the bottom of the pay scale, such as these South Asian men taking a water taxi to work, life in Dubai can be drudgery. (text: National Geographic) Social Ills: Human Rights Abuses?

In this place, petroleum wealth touched off transformation in: Culture Country’s overall wealth Demography (population structure) Social problems Land forms Economic diversification

Oil Diplomacy Oil is not simply a natural resource, it is also a political issue, and affects international relations.

Most contemporary problems in Middle East and North Africa stem from two conditions: 1. Boundaries and borders created by colonial powers 2. Strategic importance of region to political and economic interests of core countries To review (for the third time!):

Photo: Xinhua/Anadaglu Agency Turkish Soldiers Crossing the Iraqi Border at Night