MIDDLE EAST POLITICAL MIDDLE EAST POLITICAL MOVEMENTSMOVEMENTS

1920s 1920s

ARAB WORLD IS UNDER CONTROL OF ARAB WORLD IS UNDER CONTROL OF EUROPEAN POWERSEUROPEAN POWERS

REGARDED AS BETRAYAL OF REGARDED AS BETRAYAL OF PROMISESPROMISES

WESTERN CULTURAL INFLUENCES: WESTERN CULTURAL INFLUENCES: SOME ARABS ADOPT THEM, OTHERS SOME ARABS ADOPT THEM, OTHERS ARE REPELLEDARE REPELLED

ARAB NATIONALISMARAB NATIONALISM

INDEPENDENCEINDEPENDENCE

Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser becomes most Nasser becomes most charismatic leader of charismatic leader of Arab world in 1953.Arab world in 1953.

Defies West by seizing Defies West by seizing Suez CanalSuez Canal

Anti-IsraelAnti-Israel Leader of neutral Leader of neutral

countries in Cold War-countries in Cold War-gets aid from USSR when gets aid from USSR when US refuses it.US refuses it.

ATTEMPTS AT UNITYATTEMPTS AT UNITY

Union of Syria and Union of Syria and Egypt in 1958.Egypt in 1958.

Union of Syria and Union of Syria and Iraq in 1957.Iraq in 1957.

Both break up Both break up because of bickeringbecause of bickering

over power.over power.

BA’ATH MOVEMENTBA’ATH MOVEMENT

Started by three Syrian Started by three Syrian intellectuals in early intellectuals in early 1940s1940s

Michel Aflaq, right, an Michel Aflaq, right, an Orthodox ChristianOrthodox Christian

Believe in nonviolently Believe in nonviolently opposing both colonialists opposing both colonialists and native aristocratsand native aristocrats

Advocates pan-Arab Advocates pan-Arab nationalism, socialism, is nationalism, socialism, is strictly secularstrictly secular

BA’ATH continuedBA’ATH continued

Name means “Arab Name means “Arab Renaissance” or Renaissance” or “Rebirth”“Rebirth”

Hope is to unite all Hope is to unite all Arab states as one Arab states as one Arab nation.Arab nation.

1963 BA’ATHISTS TAKE OVER1963 BA’ATHISTS TAKE OVERIN SYRIA AND IRAQIN SYRIA AND IRAQ

Iraqi President Kassem assasinated Iraqi President Kassem assasinated Military coup in SyriaMilitary coup in Syria

ASSADASSAD Hafez Assad, a military Hafez Assad, a military

officer, eventually comes officer, eventually comes to power in Syria.to power in Syria.

Today, his son Bashar is Today, his son Bashar is President.President.

Ruthlessly destroys any Ruthlessly destroys any attempt at rebellion – attempt at rebellion – Hama, 1982 – 10-20,000 Hama, 1982 – 10-20,000 fundamentalists and fundamentalists and civilians killedcivilians killed

Is an Alawite Shi’ite in a Is an Alawite Shi’ite in a Sunni countrySunni country

State-sponsored State-sponsored terrorismterrorism

SADDAM HUSSEINSADDAM HUSSEIN

Member of Iraq’s ruling Member of Iraq’s ruling council from 1968 on.council from 1968 on.

Comes to full power in Comes to full power in 1978.1978.

Ruthlessly suppresses Ruthlessly suppresses any signs of rebellion, any signs of rebellion, esp. Kurds and Shi’itesesp. Kurds and Shi’ites

Is a Sunni Muslim in a Is a Sunni Muslim in a Shi’ite majority countryShi’ite majority country

WHAT HAPPENED TO BA’ATH WHAT HAPPENED TO BA’ATH MOVEMENT’S PROMISE?MOVEMENT’S PROMISE?

IT PRODUCED DICTATORS AND IT PRODUCED DICTATORS AND “ROGUE STATES”“ROGUE STATES”

BA’ATH PARTIES IN IRAQ AND SYRIA BA’ATH PARTIES IN IRAQ AND SYRIA SPLIT, BECAME ENEMIESSPLIT, BECAME ENEMIES

RISE OF ISLAMIC RISE OF ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISMFUNDAMENTALISM

ISLAM IS A ISLAM IS A POLITICALPOLITICAL RELIGION RELIGION

ISLAM SHOULD BE GUIDE OF STATEISLAM SHOULD BE GUIDE OF STATE

SHARIA or ISLAMIC LAW SHOULD BE SHARIA or ISLAMIC LAW SHOULD BE THE SOURCE OF LAWSTHE SOURCE OF LAWS

FIRST FUNDAMENTALIST STATEFIRST FUNDAMENTALIST STATE

IRANIRAN IRANIAN REVOLUTION – 1979 IRANIAN REVOLUTION – 1979 BRINGS CLERICS TO POWERBRINGS CLERICS TO POWER

US is “GREAT SATAN”US is “GREAT SATAN”USSR is not much better.USSR is not much better.HOWEVER, IRAN IS SHI’ITE - influence HOWEVER, IRAN IS SHI’ITE - influence

doesn’t spread immediately to Sunni doesn’t spread immediately to Sunni areas.areas.

STATE-SPONSORED STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISMTERRORISM

Iran sponsors Hezbollah (“Party of God”) in Iran sponsors Hezbollah (“Party of God”) in Lebanon, which takes American hostagesLebanon, which takes American hostages

Today it is involved with helping the Today it is involved with helping the Palestinians also, although few of them are Palestinians also, although few of them are Shi’itesShi’ites

Iran interested in spreading its influence as a Iran interested in spreading its influence as a dominant power in the region, rivalling dominant power in the region, rivalling Turkey, Egypt and Saudi ArabiaTurkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia

It does this by opposing Israel and USIt does this by opposing Israel and US

SPREAD OF FUNDAMENTALISMSPREAD OF FUNDAMENTALISM

Saudi Arabia sponsors Wahhabi schools Saudi Arabia sponsors Wahhabi schools and radio broadcasts around the worldand radio broadcasts around the world

Pakistan adopts sharia law in 1980.Pakistan adopts sharia law in 1980.Rise of Taliban in Afghanistan in 1995-96 Rise of Taliban in Afghanistan in 1995-96

MUSLIM BROTHERHOODMUSLIM BROTHERHOOD Founded in Egypt in 1928.Founded in Egypt in 1928.

Opposed to Western influencesOpposed to Western influences

Stresses brotherhood of MuslimsStresses brotherhood of Muslims

Has spawned most Islamic terrorist Has spawned most Islamic terrorist organizations.organizations.

Today, is a peaceful political party in Egypt.Today, is a peaceful political party in Egypt.

SAYYID QUTBSAYYID QUTB Leading theorist of Leading theorist of

Islamic fundamentalismIslamic fundamentalism Born in EgyptBorn in Egypt Member of Muslim Member of Muslim

BrotherhoodBrotherhood Earned doctorate in USEarned doctorate in US Totally repulsed by Totally repulsed by

American lifestylesAmerican lifestyles Arrested by Egyptian Arrested by Egyptian

authorities authorities His published works are His published works are

still popularstill popular

ASSASSINATION OF SADATASSASSINATION OF SADAT

19821982 Muslim Brotherhood Muslim Brotherhood

gunmen kill President gunmen kill President Sadat of Egypt – Sadat of Egypt – Why?Why?

AMONG THOSE ARRESTED:AMONG THOSE ARRESTED:

Ayman al-Zawahiri, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Egyptian doctor, Egyptian doctor, student of Qutb, student of Qutb, member of Islamic member of Islamic Jihad offshoot of Jihad offshoot of Muslim BrothersMuslim Brothers

Now second-in-Now second-in-command of al-command of al-QaedaQaeda

AL QAEDA – “THE NETWORK”AL QAEDA – “THE NETWORK” LOOSELY KNIT GROUP FUNDED BY BIN LADEN AND LOOSELY KNIT GROUP FUNDED BY BIN LADEN AND

ZAWAHIRIZAWAHIRI WANTS TO RESTORE CALIPHATE WANTS TO RESTORE CALIPHATE UNITE ALL MUSLIMS – PAN-ISLAMICUNITE ALL MUSLIMS – PAN-ISLAMIC MAIN GOAL IS TO OVERTHROW ARAB GOVTS IT MAIN GOAL IS TO OVERTHROW ARAB GOVTS IT

REGARDS AS CORRUPT AND AS SPONSORS OF REGARDS AS CORRUPT AND AS SPONSORS OF WESTERNIZATIONWESTERNIZATION

USE OF TERROR – JUSTIFIED SINCE AMERICAN USE OF TERROR – JUSTIFIED SINCE AMERICAN TROOP PRESENCE IN SAUDI ARABIA DEFILES TROOP PRESENCE IN SAUDI ARABIA DEFILES HOLY GROUNDHOLY GROUND

USE WESTERN WEAPONS AGAINST WESTUSE WESTERN WEAPONS AGAINST WEST EXPLOIT VULNERABILITIES OF LIBERAL EXPLOIT VULNERABILITIES OF LIBERAL

DEMOCRACIESDEMOCRACIES

HAMASHAMAS

Palestinian offshoot of Muslim Brotherhood – doesn’t Palestinian offshoot of Muslim Brotherhood – doesn’t believe Israel has a right to exist. believe Israel has a right to exist.

Main group carrying out suicide bombingsMain group carrying out suicide bombings Won elections last year to take over Palestinian AuthorityWon elections last year to take over Palestinian Authority Presently in conflict with PLOPresently in conflict with PLO

WOULD BA’ATHISTS AND WOULD BA’ATHISTS AND FUNDAMENTALISTS BE LIKELY FUNDAMENTALISTS BE LIKELY

TO GET ALONG?TO GET ALONG?