1. Politics of the Middle East Lebanon and Syria

2. People The population 4,125,247 Lebanon hosts over 500,000 refugees and asylum seekers: Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Sudan Muslim 54% (27% Shi’ite, 27% Sunni Islam), Christian 40.5% (includes 21% Maronite Catholic, 8% Greek Orthodox, 5% Greek Catholic, 1% Protestant, 5.5% other Christian) Druze 5.6%,

3. Economy GDP 2013 estimated - Total$45.019 billion(86th) - Per capita$10,077.268 (67th) Before the Civil War (1975–1990), the country experienced a period of relative calm and prosperity, driven by tourism, agriculture, commerce, and banking. "the Paris of the Middle East“ The 2010 public debt exceeded 150.7% of GDP fourth highest in the world commercial networks" throughout the world. Remittances from Lebanese abroad total $8.2 billion, account for one fifth of the country's economy. Lebanon has the largest proportion of skilled labor among Arab States. Nearly 65% work in the services sector, Tourism and Banking

4. Ottoman Empire from 1516 to 1918 Independence declared 8 November 1943 The last French troops withdrew in 1946. 1948, 100,000 Palestinians fled to Lebanon because of the war. Israel did not permit their return after the cease-fire. 1958 Insurrection Civil War 1975 - 1990 2000 Hafez Al-Assad died Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon

5. Modern Government parliamentary democratic republic Confessional System highest offices are proportionately reserved for representatives from certain religious communities direct elections must be held for the parliament every 5 years Parliament elects a President every 6 years to a single term. The President is not eligible for re-election fro 6 years Parties largely represent sectarian interests Full suffrage at 21 Palestinian refugees, predominantly Sunni Muslims, 160,000- 225,000, are politically inactive judicial system based on the Napoleonic Code

6. Political blocs based local interests personal/family allegiance rather than on political affinities Christians Free Patriotic Movement, Phalange Party, National Bloc, National Liberal Party, Lebanese Forces, Guardians of the Cedars Shi‘ite – Amal and Hezbollah Druze – Progressive Socialist Party Sunni – Hizb ut-Tahrir, Future Movement, Independent Nasserist Organization, Al-Tawhid, Ahbash.

7. The 1943 National Pact, divided 6-to-5 ratio of Christians to Muslims based on 1932 Census Taif Agreement of 1989 evened the ratio at 1 to 1 In the past, the system worked to produce a viable democracy. Events and demographic trends, have upset the delicate Muslim-Christian-Druze balance

8. Civil War 1975 - 1990 In 1975, coalition of Christian groups against the joint forces of the PLO, left-wing Druze and Muslim militias. 150,000 fatalities, 100,00 major casualties, 900,000 displaced 3500 Car bombs The establishment of the state of Israel Cold War Tensions Maronites sided with the West while Left Wing and pan-Arab groups sided with Soviet aligned Arab countries by the end of the war, nearly every party had allied with and betrayed every other party at least once

9. The strike of fishermen at Sidon in February 1975 supported by PLO, Pan Arab and Leftists June 1976 Syria sent in troops 1982, the PLO attacks from Lebanon on Israel led to an Israeli invasion ‘Operation Peace for Galilee’

10. militias deteriorated into mafia-style organizations with many commanders turning to crime as their main occupation rather than fighting Sources of income – Outside support: Notably from Syria and Israel. Other Arab governments and Iran – Road checkpoints as taxation – Smuggling: During the civil war, Lebanon turned into one of the world's largest narcotics producers

11. End of the War The 1989 Taif Agreement Parliament in defiance of the President instituted constitutional reforms

12. Hezbollah Formed in 1982 Response to Israeli invasion Trained by 1500, IRGC Forces in the Bekaa 1992 The State within the State,Seats in Parliament, TV broadcasts and Military wing Social Services operates at least four hospitals, twelve clinics, twelve schools and two agricultural centres

13. Syrian military presence faced criticism and resistance from the Lebanese population. 14 February 2005, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated in a car bomb explosion marked the beginning of a series of assassinations that resulted in the death of many prominent Lebanese figures triggered the Cedar Revolution, a series of demonstrations which demanded the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and the establishment of an international commission to investigate the assassination. 26 April 2005 all Syrian soldiers departed

14. 12 July 2006, Hezbollah launched a series of rocket attacks and raids into Israeli territory where they killed three Israeli soldiers and captured a further two. Israel responded with airstrikes, artillery fire ground invasion of southern Lebanon, resulting in the 2006 Lebanon War. Ended 14 August 2006, 1,191 Lebanese and 160 Israelis were killed in the conflict. Beirut's southern suburb was heavily damaged by Israeli airstrikes where Hezbollah was deeply embedded

15. In 2007, the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp became the center of the 2007 Lebanon conflict between the Lebanese Army and Fatah al-Islam. On 9 May 2008, Hezbollah and Amal forces, seized western Beirut leading to the 2008 conflict In 2012, the Syrian civil war threatened to spill over in Lebanon, causing more incidents of sectarian violence more than 677,702 Syrian refugees Fear that the country’s sectarian based political system is being undermined

16. Syria

17. Independence 1946, French Mandate number of military coups and coup attempts shook the country in the period 1949–1971. 1949 coup d'état by Col. Husni al-Za'im, described as the first military overthrow of the Arab World. followed by another overthrow, by Col. Sami al-Hinnawi, who was himself quickly deposed by Col. Adib Shishakli, November 1956, as a direct result of the Suez Crisis Syria signed a pact with the Soviet Union 1958 – 61 UAR Ba’athist Secret Military Committee; Captain Hafez al-Assad 1963 Ba’ath coup (Party split in Iraq and Syria) Six-Day War, Israel capturing two-thirds of the Golan Heights in under 48 hours. The defeat caused a split between Jadid and Assad over what steps to take next

18. 1970 Corrective Movement, a bloodless military coup by Hafez al-Assad 1976, Syria entered Lebanon, beginning the thirty-year occupation late 1970s, an Islamist uprising by the Muslim Brotherhood Attacks on civilians and off- duty military personnel, leading security forces The uprising had reached climax in the 1982 Hama massacre, 40,000 people were killed by regular Syrian Army troops. 1990 participated in the US-led Gulf War

19. Hafez al-Assad died on 10 June 2000. Basher al Assad President In 2005, Syria ended its occupation of Lebanon 6 September 2007, Israeli jet fighters carried out Operation Orchard against a suspected nuclear reactor under construction by North Korean technicians

20. Government a unitary republic. Allows individuals to be elected which do not form part of the National Progressive Front. The President is Head of State Prime Minister is Head of Government. legislature, the Peoples Council passing laws, approving government appropriations and debating policy. The executive branch consists of the president, two vice presidents, the prime minister, and the Council of Ministers (cabinet). constitution requires the president to be a Muslim, but does not make Islam the state religion. The Supreme State Security Court (SSSC) was abolished by al- Assad 2011. judicial system has elements of Ottoman, French, and Islamic laws. Syria has three levels of courts:

21. 2012 Constitutional Reforms The constitution 2012 semi-presidential republic the president is elected by Syrian citizens in a direct election. Under the previous constitution no multi-party elections for the legislature with two-thirds of the seats automatically allocated to the ruling coalition. 7 May 2012, Syria held its first elections in which parties outside the ruling coalition could take part.

22. People Sunni Arab Majoritty, Aramean-Syriac Christians, Armenians, Assyrians, Kurds, Circassians, Mhallami, Mandeans, Turks. Sunni, Christians, Alawite, Druze, Yezidi. refugees and asylum seekers 1,852,300. The vast majority of this population was from Iraq (1,300,000), but sizeable populations from the former Palestine (543,400) and Somalia (5,200) lived in the country. about 9.5 million Syrians, half the population, have been displaced

23. Economy "lower middle income country." oil sector provides about 40% of export earnings The agriculture sector contributes to about 20% of GDP and 20% of employment. Since the civil war began, the economy shrank by 35%, and the Syrian pound has fallen to one-sixth of its prewar value. The government increasingly relies on credit from Iran, Russia and China. 2005 30% of the Syrian population lives in poverty and 11.4% live below the subsistence level.[66] Prior tot the conflict unemployment 10 %

24. Economic Effects of the Conflict value of overall exports reduced by two-thirds, 12$ billion in 2010 to only US$4 billion] oil and tourism industries in devastated, with US$5 billion lost to the ongoing conflict of the civil war.[ Reconstruction needed because US$10 billion.[140] Sanctions estimated to cost about $400 million a month. hotel occupancy rates from 90% before the war to less than 15% Around 40% of all employees have lost their jobs since the beginning of the war.

25. Politics of the Middle East Iran

26. People Iran is home to one of the world's oldest continuous major civilizations, with historical settlements 4000 BC Population 75 Million Half the population under 35 61% Persian, majority Shi’ite Muslim 89%

27. Economy 60 % centrally planned 10 % World oil reserves 15% gas Ranked 1 st in scientific growth agriculture (10%), oil (25%), industry (20%), services (45%) GDP per capita $7,207 (76th) Unemployment 11%

28. HIStory During WWI occupied by British, Russian and Ottomans Following the Russian Revolution Britain attempted to establish a protectorate, Failed 1925 Pahlavi Dynasty, Nationalism, Secularism, Westernisation 1935 Riots ‘too fast, too superficial’ 1941 Anglo Soviet Invasion Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, until 1979

29. 1946 Soviets withdraw, promises of oil concessions. Conditions revoked, and Soviet puppet states overthrown 1947 – 1951 Six different Prime Ministers 1951 Prime Minister Mohammed Mosaddeq Abadan Crisis, Nationalize Oil Industry Operation Ajax Deposed Mussadeq Ruled as an Autocracy with US support from that time Oil profits split 50 – 50 White Revolution, Land Reform

30. 1979 Islamic Revolution Khomeini returned on 1 February 1979 transformed from an absolute monarchy, to an Islamic republic Pahlavi left the country for exile in January 1979 was populist, nationalist and most of all Shi'a Islamic velayat-e faqih the idea advanced by that everyone requires "guardianship", in the form of rule or supervision by the leading Islamic jurist Hostage Crisis 1979 – 1981, 444 Days

31. Iran Iraq War 1980 - 1988 Iraq made early advances in 1982. Khomeini sought to export his Islamic revolution westward into Iraq, especially on the majority Shi'a Arabs. War continued until 1988 Khomeini, "drank the cup of poison" and accepted the UN truce 100,000 Iranian victims chemical weapons Iranian casualties 500,000 and 1,000,000.

32. Government Theocratic Presidential Democracy Supreme Leader, Assembly of Experts, Guardian Council, President, Parliament, Expediency Council

33. President Elected for 4 Years by universal suffrage Appoints Ministers 21 and Vice Presidents 10 Drafts laws to be approved by Parliament Does not control the military Candidates Approved by Guardian Council 6000 applications for 2013 election

34. Parliament 290 members elected to 4 year terms. draft legislation, ratify treaties, approve national budget. candidates and all legislation from the assembly must be approved by the Council of Guardians.

35. Assembly of Experts 86 ‘virtuous and learned’ clerics Elected to 8 year terms Candidates must pass a written examination administered by the Guardian Council Meet twice annually Appoint and remove the Supreme Leader

36. Expediency Council mediates disputes between Parliament and the Guardian Council heads of the three government branches, clerical members of the Guardian Council and other members appointed by the supreme leader for three-year terms

37. Guardian Council 12 jurists, 6 clerics appointed by Supreme Leader, 6 elected by the Parliament interprets the constitution, rejects bills incompatible with the constitution or Sharia approves candidates for national election

38. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and Ali Khamenei Appointed and Supervised by the Assembly of Experts Head of State with powers over defence and religious affairs Veto legislation Declare War and Peace with 2/3 approval of Parliament

39. Corps of the Guardians of the Islamic revolution protect the Revolution and assist the ruling clerics in the enforcement of the new government's Islamic codes and morality Preventing foreign intervention, military coupe, border security 125K guards 90K Basiji militia Quds Force, special forces unconventional warfare roles providing assistance and training to various organizations around the world

40. 1989 On his deathbed Khomeini appointed a 25-man Constitutional Reform Council which named Ali Khamenei as the next Supreme Leader Rafsanjani served two 4 year terms focused efforts on rebuilding ran's economy, cut military spending and normalized relations with neighbors Neutral during Gulf War I 1997 Mohammad Khatami. His presidency was defined by tensions between the reform- government and a conservative active clergy. re-elected 2001 ‘Dialogue of Civilizations’

41. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Elected 2005 62% of the vote American invasion of Iraq, overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime and empowerment of its Shi‘ite majority, all strengthened Iran's position in the region 2009 reelection was disputed Street Protests, Mir-Hossein Mousavi and his supporters alleged voting irregularities 1000 people had been arrested and 20 killed in street demonstrations foreign powers were blamed Hassan Rouhani3 August 2013

42. Atoms for Peace program 1950s clandestine nuclear weapons research program was disbanded by Khomeini who considered weapons forbidden under Muslim ethics Ali Khamenei fatwa forbidding the production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons. 2005 Cited by IAEA non-compliance 2011 Iran's first nuclear power plant complete with assistance of Russia 2007 US intelligence concluded Iran was not conducting research on weapons capability 2012 was capable but pursuing weapons with 20% enriched uranium. Iran maintains it has the right to enrich for civilian purposes Israel remains staunchly opposed to enrichment.