1. Political Directions
Chapter 27, Sec. 1

2. Pan-Arabism By 1950, most Middle Eastern nations had won independence.
Despite this, they still felt the effects of European imperialism.
Their national boundaries had been drawn by the West and their economies depended heavily on the European powers.
This led to opposition to western culture.

3. Pan-Arabism
Goals
Arab nationalists believed that a unified Arab state could be a major world power.
They believed that such an Arab state could be strong enough to end European domination of the Middle East.
Experiments in this idea (Egypt and Syria) were short-lived.

4. Obstacles to Unity
National, ethnic, and kinship ties proved to be stronger than the desire for pan-Arabism.
Many people felt greater loyalty to their own country than to the pan-Arab state.
Other factors made pan-Arabism difficult including geographic, economic, and religious differences.
Despite their failure to unit many Arab leaders still held onto the dream of a pan-Arab state.

5. Political Traditions
After the period of imperialism many Arabic nations struggled to define their individual identities.
Most states turned to powerful central governments with a sole leader.

6. Forms of Government
Most Middle Eastern nations today are republics, though in some dictators hold power.
At the time of independence many nations were monarchies but then some later became republics.
Republics: Egypt, Iraq, and Iran
Monarchies: Saudi Arabia and Jordan

7. Forms of Government
Middle Eastern countries vary in the degree to which citizens can participate in their government.
Saudi Arabia has a monarch that has absolute power.
Jordan has a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament and king.
Turkey and Israel are multiparty states that hold free elections. Citizens there are freer to express their opinions.

8. Forms of Government
In both Syria and Iraq a strongman ruler and a single political party, the Baath party, dominate.
Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein brutally silenced critics and crushed opposition groups.

9. Islamic Law Shariah – the moral code and religious law of Islam
As in the past, Islam acts as both a religion and basis for government.
Muslims recognize the Koran as governing all aspects of life.
While most Middle Eastern countries follow western styles of government, some nations (like Iran and Saudi Arabia) rely on Shariah.

10. Challenges to Stability
Many different factors have posed major challenges to the governments of the Middle East.
These factors include minority groups seeking self-rule, rapid population growth, urbanization, widespread poverty, and illiteracy.

11. Civil War in Lebanon
For many years Lebanon was one of the most unstable places in the Middle East.
Lebanon is home to many different Christian and Muslim groups.
Power in the government was divided amongst these different groups.
However it gave less power to the growing Muslim population than to Christian groups.
In 1975, Lebanon plunged into a Civil War which lasted for 16 years.
The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) emerged at this time to launch terrorist attacks on Israel.

12. Foreign Involvement
In time, Syria, Israel, Iran, and the United States all became involved in the struggle.
Syria and Israel occupied parts of Lebanon
Thousands of Lebanese were killed in the fighting, and the once-thriving economy was destroyed.
Finally, in 1991, the Lebanese agreed to a power-sharing agreement that gave Muslims a greater say in government.

13. The Force of Islamic Tradition
After independence, Middle Eastern nations inherited many elements of western culture and technology.
Leaders set up secular governments and schools.
Islamic law was replaced by law codes with western principles.
In cities, especially, young people embraced western music, clothing, and cultural values.
Women gained more freedom to go out in public, and some stopped covering their heads and faces.

14. The Islamist Movement
Some Muslims saw westernization has a form of colonialism.
To them, it was an evil force undermining Islamic society.
They demanded a return to the values set out in the Koran and early Islamic traditions.
People in Muslim lands often disagreed about if this should be done.

15. The Islamist Movement
The Islamists insisted that governments use the Shariah as the basis of law.
They wanted to restore authority to religious leaders and to enforce strict separation of men and women in public places.
The Islamist view spurred a religious revival throughout the Muslim world.
It seemed to offer a balance to the rapid social and economic challenges sweeping the Muslim world.

16. Extremism
Extremist groups such as al Qaeda have used terror and violence to promote their values.
They claim to be in a holy struggle against the enemies of Islam.
Extremists have targeted the United States for attack.
They accuse the U.S. of spreading its culture and values in a new form of imperialism.
They also condemn the U.S. for aiding Israel and helping oppressive governments stay in power.

17. Extremism
Most Middle Eastern leaders reject the actions of Islamic extremists.
They say that westernization is a natural process.
Governments in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria have cracked down on Islamic extremists.
However, they were not able to destroy the movements.
In many Muslim countries, people who feel they have no future continue to be drawn to the extremists.