The Middle EastModern Issues
Mr. MizakGlobal Studies
Fall 2009
The Force of Islamic Tradition
• Many Middle Eastern nations inherited elements of western culture– Replaced Islamic law with laws based on western
principles• Some Muslims saw westernization as a form
of colonialism• Demanded a return to Islamic traditions• Return to Shariah as basis of law
Extremism• Small minority in the
Muslim population has turned to terrorism
• Use terror and violence to promote values
• Holy struggle against enemies of Islam
• Why target the United States?– New form of imperialism– Aiding of Israel
Oil
• The Middle East has 60% of the world’s oil reserves
• Clear division between oil rich countries and their neighbors
• Using profits from oil, countries have increased the standard of living for their people
• Oil remains an area of great concern for the global community
OPEC• In 1960, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait,
and Saudi Arabia joined Venezuela to form the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
• Goal= end western oil companies’ power over prices
• Regularly meet to decide how much oil to produce and at what price to sell
Women’s Lives• Status of women vary from
country to country• In conservative areas,
women must be veiled when they leave their homes
• In others, women walk along the streets freely
• Women are responsible for housework and child care
Burqa
Arab- Israeli Conflict
• At the end of WWII many called for the creation of a Jewish state. (To make up for the Holocaust)
• Palestinian Arabs opposed losing any of their homeland
• In 1947 the UN partitioned Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state.
• The Arab world saw Israel as a creation of the western powers who wanted to dominate the Middle East.