1. Government & Economics of Southwest Asia

2. Distribution of Power
Unitary: power held by one central authority (not necessarily one person)
Confederation: state governments hold more power than the central government
Federation: powers divided and shared between central and state governments

3. Civic Participation
Autocracy: citizens have little or no role in government (one person in complete control of the government)
Oligarchy: citizens have little or no role in government (small group in control of the government)
Democracy: citizens hold supreme power and exercise it either directly or indirectly through the voting process

4. New types:
Parliamentary democracy: real executive power lies in a cabinet composed of members of the legislature
Presidential ;Two ruling bodies that have separate jobs and duties (writing laws and enforcing them

5. Governments State of Israel: Parliamentary democracy
Knesset: 120 member Parliament
Prime minister is the head of government
Current Prime Minister is Benjamin Netanyahu
Citizens over the age of 18 can vote for members of the parliament (Knesset) who in turn elect the prime minister

6. Governments Saudi Arabia:
Monarchy; right of succession is hereditary but successor is chosen from the crown princes of the royal family
King’s power is limited by Islamic law and he must build consensus among religious leaders before making decisions
Citizens have no voting rights and there are no political parties
King Abdullah Al Saud

7. Governments Islamic Republic of Iran:
Theocratic republic with a presidential system
Very complex and interconnected government system
According to the Iranian Constitution, it is “the duty of the Islamic government to furnish all citizens with equal and appropriate opportunities, to provide them with work, and to satisfy their essential needs so that the course of their progress may be assured”

8. Governments
The Supreme Leader of Iran is the highest ranking political and religious leader in Iran
Supreme Leader is appointed by the Assembly of Experts
Appoints the commander of the armed forces, director of the radio and TV network, prayer leaders in city mosques, and members of the national security councils
Has sole power to declare war or peace
Ayatollah Khamenei

9. Governments
Iran:
All citizens can vote over the age of 18 for president, legislature, and Assembly of Experts
President is the highest political authority after the Supreme Leader
President is elected by the people, serves a 4-year term and can be re-elected once
President is the head of government but can be removed by the Supreme Leader at any time
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

10. Economics Saudi Arabia: World’s leading producer of oil
Over 95% of oil industry is operated by the government
Government has been trying to increase private ownership of business and more foreign investment
One-third of Saudi Arabia’s GDP is based on exports to other countries
A huge increase in literacy rate in the last 30 years has also increased GDP

11. Economics
Israel:
Much of Israel’s GDP comes from high tech manufacturing, financial services, and agriculture
Have developed a strong technology industry to make up for the lack of natural resources
Israel spends a lot of money to be sure their workers are trained
Government owns many businesses, but is gradually privatizing businesses

12. Economics
Turkey:
Diversified economy; service, manufacturing, and agriculture
Moving from government controlled economy to more private enterprise
One-fifth of their production is exported

13. Economics OPEC: Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
Created in 1960
Consists of 12 oil-producing countries
Algeria
Angola
Ecuador
Iran
Iraq
Kuwait
Libya
Nigeria
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Venezuela

14. OPEC
Purpose of OPEC was to work together to regulate the supply and price of oil they exported to other countries
Most of the member countries are located in SW Asia
These countries decide how much oil they will produce which determines the price of oil
When they produce less oil, prices go up. When they produce more, prices go down.

15. Trade Barriers Tariff Quota
A tax on imports
Quota
A limit on the amount of goods imported into a country during a certain period of time
Purpose of both is to encourage consumers to purchase domestic goods
Embargo
Cuts off trade; usually used to put political pressure on a nation to force them to do something
Quota

16. Trade Barriers
Following the Persian Gulf War, the United Nations imposed an embargo against Iraq.
The purpose was to restrict Iraq’s trade until it met UN requirements.
Banned all trade and financial imports except for medicine and some food
Led to food rationing and the alleged deaths of many Iraqi people, especially children, due to malnourishment and sickness