Authoritarianism can be defined as a small group of individuals who control the state with little popular interference or oversight, in contrast to democracies. But the presence of an authoritarian government does not mean no political participation, for political participation exists in every political system. Authoritarian regimes in the Middle East have key features that … Read more
Nuclear Weapons In recent years, The US, UK, France, China, North Korea, and Russia have been trying to publicize their nuclear threshold, but Israel have denied being the first state in the Middle East to possess nuclear capabilities despite evidence to the contrary. Arguments that support Israel’s nuclear program say that it is a powerful … Read more
The economics of the Middle East is a mixed picture. Some oil producing countries have seen rapid economic growth, while others like Israel, Turkey, and Tunisia have relied on strong service sectors. But inflation, unemployment, and corruption continue to undercut economic potential in the region. The economies in the Middle East have structural issues, including … Read more
This chapter discusses the main obstacles of the peace process that developed between Israel and Palestine since 1991. Both sides claim to fight for their identity and for their rights. The Israelis have been fighting for their self-defence, while the Palestinians have been fighting for their right to self-determination. The Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process The peace … Read more
Political ideology, a consistent set of ideas and visions for how society should work, is a modern phenomenon born out of the French revolution. To understand nationalism, it is important to understand the idea of nations. Nations are bound together by a shared language, culture, and history. Nationalism is an ideology which claims that supreme … Read more
The decades after World War 2 were critical in shaping the Middle East’s political structures. After the war began, demand for oil increased – the Middle East became more valuable, as a supplier of oil, and as a strategic location. During the war, British and French forces occupied Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria while Soviet forces … Read more
The French established protectorates across North Africa but they were not all of the same kind. The Gulf peninsula was ruled by tribally based federations tied together through political and religious affiliations. The most important of these was the house of Saud’s alliance with the figure Ibn ‘Abd el Wahab’. The Saudi/Wahabi alliance would emerge … Read more
Chapter 1: The Ottoman Empire and its Legacy in the Middle East The Middle East is the birthplace of three monotheistic faiths of Judaism (2000 BCE), Christianity (1st Century AD), and Islam (7th century CE). The Ottomans tried to regulate Islam across the empire through the Grand Mufti. In the 18th and 19th century, the … Read more
The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith was written at a time when Mercantilism was the dominant economic policy. Those who advocate mercantile policies think that for any country, imports are bad while exports are good. But what Adam Smith argued for, was that the key to growth and prosperity, was not to engage in … Read more
Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence is a book about gaining control over your attention. It’s getting harder to focus because there is more information and more ways to access this information. But what is important is to think of attention as a muscle, that, if worked on, will get stronger. What you decide to … Read more