THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE UNITED STATES

Comparing and Contrasting Contemporary Ideologies

WHAT IS THE MIDDLE EAST?

DefinitionAlso called Mideast.

(loosely) the area from Libya E to Afghanistan, usually including Egypt,

Sudan, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia,

and the other countries of the Arabian peninsula.

Human Characteristics

Ethnicity: Mainly Arab, with Turks (Turkey),

Persians (Iran), and Jewish (Israel) Minorities.

Religion: Largly Islamic, Christian Minorities, Israel

is mainly Jewish

Physical Characteristics

Largly Desert both in the Arabian Peninsula

and North Africa

Resources: Many Arab countries have large

deposits of oil.

Water is scarce.

WHERE IS THE MIDDLE EAST?

WHAT IS AN IDEOLOGY

• Definition: A person’s ideas about economics, politics, religion, and education.

• Examples: Political Parties, Companies, Religions, Schools, Families, Communities.

Middle East vs. United States Ideologies

Middle East

Largely Muslim

Largely Arab

Dictatorship

Theocracy (ISIS and Iran)

Women have less rights

Communal

United States

Largely Christian

Largely European descent

Democracy / Republic

Separation of Church and

Government

Individualism

U.S. vs. Iran Ideologies

Religion: Belief or worship of a higher powerBoth Christianity and Islam Believe in one God.

Middle East Religions:-Islam / Muslim Faith -Sunni and Shiite are the two major sects

-small minority of Jewish

and Christian Religions

U.S. Religion:

Majority Christian: Two major

sects: Protestant and Catholic.

minority of Atheists, Muslims, Jews

and other religions.

Beliefs: An important opinion or conviction

Christian Beliefs:

Only one God

Trinity

Jesus was God

Give to the poor

Muslim/Islamic Beliefs:

Only one God

5 Pillars of Islam

Give to the poor

Muhammad is the final

prophet

Customs: Traditions followed by the majority of people within a cultural group.

U.S. Customs:

American Women tend to shave

legs and Armpits

Deoderant

Bath once a day

Eat with the hand you write with

Middle Eastern Customs:Some Middle Eastern Women are

expected to cover up in public.

Greasy tents show hospitality

Eat with your right hand...the left is

for other things.

Values: Ideas about what worthy behaviors should be.

U.S. Values

Individualism, equality,

materialism, science and

technology, progress, work

ethic, mobility, volunteerism

Middle Eastern Values:

Honor, good impression,

loyalty to family, fate,

conformity, tradition, social

class/background

Prejudice: A belief held about a person or group of people without any actual experience.

Prejudice against U.S?

Materialistic

Overconsumption: Greedy

Racist, Gun-loving, violent,

arrogant, environmentally

unconscious

Prejudice against Middle East:

Billionaires, Bombers,and Belly

Dancers, primitive, Beards, Anti-

woman

Stereotypes?

Politics: The Activities of Governments

Democracy

A government where

people have the power

to vote.

Dictatorship

A government where a

single person has the

power.

Theocracy

A government where

the leader of the

church has power and

religious laws are also

political law.

Political Arrangements

Democracy Dictatorship Theocracy

The End