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MIDDLE EAST POLITICAL MOVEMENTS

MIDDLE EAST POLITICAL MOVEMENTS. 1920s. ARAB WORLD IS UNDER CONTROL OF EUROPEAN POWERS REGARDED AS BETRAYAL OF PROMISES WESTERN CULTURAL INFLUENCES: SOME ARABS ADOPT THEM, OTHERS ARE REPELLED. ARAB NATIONALISM. INDEPENDENCE.

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MIDDLE EAST POLITICAL MOVEMENTS

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  1. MIDDLE EAST POLITICAL MOVEMENTS

  2. 1920s • ARAB WORLD IS UNDER CONTROL OF EUROPEAN POWERS • REGARDED AS BETRAYAL OF PROMISES • WESTERN CULTURAL INFLUENCES: SOME ARABS ADOPT THEM, OTHERS ARE REPELLED

  3. ARAB NATIONALISM

  4. INDEPENDENCE • Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser becomes most charismatic leader of Arab world in 1953. • Defies West by seizing Suez Canal • Anti-Israel • Leader of neutral countries in Cold War-gets aid from USSR when US refuses it.

  5. ATTEMPTS AT UNITY • Union of Syria and Egypt in 1958. • Union of Syria and Iraq in 1957. • Both break up because of bickering over power.

  6. BA’ATH MOVEMENT • Started by three Syrian intellectuals in early 1940s • Michel Aflaq, right, an Orthodox Christian • Believe in nonviolently opposing both colonialists and native aristocrats • Advocates pan-Arab nationalism, socialism, is strictly secular

  7. BA’ATH continued • Name means “Arab Renaissance” or “Rebirth” • Hope is to unite all Arab states as one Arab nation.

  8. 1963 BA’ATHISTS TAKE OVERIN SYRIA AND IRAQ • Iraqi President Kassem assasinated • Military coup in Syria

  9. ASSAD • Hafez Assad, a military officer, eventually comes to power in Syria. • Today, his son Bashar is President. • Ruthlessly destroys any attempt at rebellion – Hama, 1982 – 10-20,000 fundamentalists and civilians killed • Is an Alawite Shi’ite in a Sunni country • State-sponsored terrorism

  10. SADDAM HUSSEIN Member of Iraq’s ruling council from 1968 on. • Comes to full power in 1978. • Ruthlessly suppresses any signs of rebellion, esp. Kurds and Shi’ites • Is a Sunni Muslim in a Shi’ite majority country

  11. WHAT HAPPENED TO BA’ATH MOVEMENT’S PROMISE? • IT PRODUCED DICTATORS AND “ROGUE STATES” • BA’ATH PARTIES IN IRAQ AND SYRIA SPLIT, BECAME ENEMIES

  12. RISE OF ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM • ISLAM IS A POLITICAL RELIGION • ISLAM SHOULD BE GUIDE OF STATE • SHARIA or ISLAMIC LAW SHOULD BE THE SOURCE OF LAWS

  13. FIRST FUNDAMENTALIST STATE • IRAN • IRANIAN REVOLUTION – 1979 • BRINGS CLERICS TO POWER • US is “GREAT SATAN” • USSR is not much better. • HOWEVER, IRAN IS SHI’ITE - influence doesn’t spread immediately to Sunni areas.

  14. STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISM • Iran sponsors Hezbollah (“Party of God”) in Lebanon, which takes American hostages • Today it is involved with helping the Palestinians also, although few of them are Shi’ites • Iran interested in spreading its influence as a dominant power in the region, rivalling Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia • It does this by opposing Israel and US

  15. SPREAD OF FUNDAMENTALISM • Saudi Arabia sponsors Wahhabi schools and radio broadcasts around the world • Pakistan adopts sharia law in 1980. • Rise of Taliban in Afghanistan in 1995-96

  16. MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD • Founded in Egypt in 1928. • Opposed to Western influences • Stresses brotherhood of Muslims • Has spawned most Islamic terrorist organizations. • Today, is a peaceful political party in Egypt.

  17. SAYYID QUTB • Leading theorist of Islamic fundamentalism • Born in Egypt • Member of Muslim Brotherhood • Earned doctorate in US • Totally repulsed by American lifestyles • Arrested by Egyptian authorities • His published works are still popular

  18. ASSASSINATION OF SADAT • 1982 • Muslim Brotherhood gunmen kill President Sadat of Egypt – Why?

  19. AMONG THOSE ARRESTED: • Ayman al-Zawahiri, Egyptian doctor, student of Qutb, member of Islamic Jihad offshoot of Muslim Brothers • Now second-in-command of al-Qaeda

  20. AL QAEDA – “THE NETWORK” • LOOSELY KNIT GROUP FUNDED BY BIN LADEN AND ZAWAHIRI • WANTS TO RESTORE CALIPHATE • UNITE ALL MUSLIMS – PAN-ISLAMIC • MAIN GOAL IS TO OVERTHROW ARAB GOVTS IT REGARDS AS CORRUPT AND AS SPONSORS OF WESTERNIZATION • USE OF TERROR – JUSTIFIED SINCE AMERICAN TROOP PRESENCE IN SAUDI ARABIA DEFILES HOLY GROUND • USE WESTERN WEAPONS AGAINST WEST • EXPLOIT VULNERABILITIES OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACIES

  21. HAMAS • Palestinian offshoot of Muslim Brotherhood – doesn’t believe Israel has a right to exist. • Main group carrying out suicide bombings • Won elections last year to take over Palestinian Authority • Presently in conflict with PLO

  22. WOULD BA’ATHISTS AND FUNDAMENTALISTS BE LIKELY TO GET ALONG?

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