Chapter 9: Democratization and the Uprisings (Introduction to Middle East Politics)

The Arab Spring was the move towards democratisation, away from authoritarianism. Since 2011, uprisings have occurred across the entire region, but the results have been mixed. While there have been some changes towards greater reform, not all authoritarian regimes have been removed. And in many countries that saw widespread protest, there has been little political … Read more

Chapter 8: Authoritarianism (Introduction to Middle East Politics)

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

Chapter 7: The Military, Security, and Politics (Introduction to Middle East Politics)

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

Chapter 6: Oil, Economy, and Development (Introduction to Middle East Politics)

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

Chapter 5: Israel, the Palestinians and the Peace Process (Introduction to Middle East Politics)

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

Chapter 4: Islamism, Nationalism (Introduction to Middle East Politics)

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