Modern Middle East

In this paper we are going to look at the origins of the Arab-Israeli dispute and the positions taken by both of these sides. We will also look at the reasons as to why this dispute is complex and any solutions that can be offered to solve them in the future. Also to be considered in this paper is the main motives of the United States of Americas involvement in the region, why the got involved, their motives and if it was really necessary for them to get involved in the conflict. 

 The issue of turkey being a model for developing nations will also be discussed in this paper and the way the country has dealt with such issues as secularization, westernization and modernization. I will also analyze the differences between Arab nationalism, Islam and Islamism and look at the growth of each and which has a higher likelihood of prevailing in the future. Finally, I will be looking into the impact the Muslim resurgence has had on world history since 1945, what caused this resurgence and why the west is having problems coping with this movement, and the relationship between this movement and the increase in terrorist activities.

Discuss the origins of the Arab-Israeli dispute and the positions of both sides. Why is this dispute so complex Can you offer any solutions for the future

The Arab-Israeli dispute originated as a result of land dispute between the then Zionist movement and the Pan Arab movement, who both claimed that the territory that is now occupied by Israel to be theirs. The Zionist movement which consists of the Jewish people considered that territory to be their ancestral and historical land. The Christians from the Zionist movement supported the Jews from the same movement due to the recognition of the fact that ancestral rights to Israel are explained in the bible, specifically the New Testament. Basically, the Jews lay claim to the land, since they consider that this was, and still is their promised land, which their ancestors conquered and ruled between the centuries 6th and 11th BC, after being promised by God this land (Canaan). Muslims non-the-less also laid claim to this land, as per the Quran. They argue that the promised land was not only promised to the lineage of Abrahams son Isaac, but also to his other sons descendants, including Ishmael, who was in fact older than Isaac, and whom his descendants are the Arabs  Muslims. It is also worth noting that Muslims believe that their prophet Muhammad, on his way to heaven, passed through the holy city of Jerusalem. 
This dispute is very difficult and complex due to the fact that both these factions have exclusive rights to this land. It would be tricky for any nation to get involved on the basis that this is a dispute that these two movements or nations should seek to solve within themselves. The best solution that can be offered is for the Arab nations to lay down their arms. This is due to the fact that Israeli is surrounded by Arab nations, and if they were to lay down their arms, that would be the end of Israel. As for the Arab nations, their laying down of arms will have no consequence on the state of peace considering there is no way that Israel could wage an attack on all these nations, if they are not even a threat (Schulze, 2008).

Discuss the origins and main motives for United States involvement in the region--specifically, the American interests in the region. Was it in the best interest of the United States to get involved in the region Justify and support and answer.                       

 In the 1930s, oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia. This led to the United States involvement in the affairs of the Middle East, including the Arab-Israeli conflict. The creation of an activist community by the Jews in the Palestine was also a contributing factor in the United States involvement in the affairs of the Middle East. The United States were enjoying a good relationship with the Arab oil producing countries which was more of strategic, considering that they were dependent on this oil. This was also due to the fact that the Arabs sided with the United States during the Cold War in which the Soviet Union was involved. It was not in the best interest for the United States to get involved in this conflict since they could have consulted with the Arab countries first, on the situation of the Palestinian cause. Another reason as to why America should not have been involved in the whole issue is the fact that, its presence in that region is not doing any good to the interest of the Americans. In fact, its involvement has brought more bad than good including extremist activities, violence and terrorism. Also Americas involvement is a big obstacle to the peace process in the Middle East since its position in the region would be in the best interest of the Israeli nation. The American taxpayers are also the biggest burden bearers of the United States involvement in this conflict since their money is used to fund Israel through huge loans while Israel engages in spy activities against the United States (Karsh, 2002).

Why has Turkey been a model for developing nations Assess its effectiveness in dealing with such issues as secularization, westernization, and modernization.        

 Turkey has been a model for the developing countries, considering its economic policy since 1983, which saw the then Prime Minister, put initiate reforms that changed the economy from a statist one to a more private sector driven economy. Considering the massive inflation that hit that country in the year 2001, the manner in which the country recovered and posting an inflation of single digit numbers is a model to be admired and emulated by other developing nations. Equally important to notice are the changes that Turkey has made in its banking, telecommunications and retail sectors with an aim of improving investor confidence and raising the level of foreign investments. Turkey has been very enduring as a nation, considering that they never fell into the grasp of the imperial Europe. 

The Turks were able to modernize themselves socially and economically, along the lines of the European ideologies, and at the same time keep their independence from being taken by the Europeans. Turkeys handling of the secularization issue wasnt as effective as one would have expected. Religious education was at some particular time abolished. Apart from all these restrictions, Turkeys secularization was not fully complete and religion is still a force in the country. The westernization of Turkey has been viewed by many as a loss of culture by the nation, and I believe that they did not deal with the situation with an acceptable level of effectiveness. This is due to the fact that they let westernization influence their culture so much as to the extent that they had to change what was natively their own ways. That is the only critic I have against what other developing countries should model from Turkey (Vertigans, 2003).

Discuss the differences between Arab nationalism, Islam, and Islamism. Provide specific examples and growth of each. In your own opinion, which force seems most likely to prevail in the future and why Support your answer

Arab nationalism is an ideology that was adopted by Arab nations in pursuit of promotion of nationalism in the early 20th century. Their ideology claim that Arab nations should combine as a single nation which is binded by a common religion, culture, language and historical heritage. Their main goal is to completely eliminate or at the least put western influence on the Arab world to the minimum. They also aim to remove the governments whose nations in the Arab world are in collaboration with the west. Islamism is of the belief that Islam should not only be regarded as a religion, but also as a political movement. This means that Muslims should unite as a political unit. Believers of Islamism have been known to eliminate economical, military, social and cultural practices connected or related to the western world from the Muslim world which appear not to conform with their laws. There was even an enforcement of an Islamic law which is known as Sharia. Islam on the other hand, is a religion, and it is associated with the Quran which is a religious book. The word Islam in itself stands for submission to a higher being (God). Muslims believe that their religion is the true religion, and that messages that were relayed to the first prophets have been doctored and changed over time. I believe Islam is a force that is likely to prevail in the future, because it is what binds all these other ideologies. Without Islam, these other ideologies would not have existed, thus the ultimate power for the future is Islam (Choueiri, 2000).

What impact has the Muslim resurgence had on world history since 1945 What caused this resurgence, and why is the West having difficulty coping with this movement Discuss the relationship between this movement and the increase in terrorist activities

Islamic resurgence is a wave of the movement and activities that the Muslims engage in. It involves threats and the urge to maintain the status quo within the Arab world, regaining power and control of the territories thought to be belonging to the Islam community. It has impacted the world since Arab countries joined forces with the United States in the Cold War against the Soviet Union. This changed the political scene to date, with the United States getting involved in the affairs of the Middle East. The insurgency was caused by the western influence on Islam, and its involvement in the issues of the Middle East. Muslims all over the world felt that they had to unite against this western influence, and thus posing a threat to the western countries. It is difficult for the west to cope with the problem of insurgency, owing to the fact that it is a worldwide problem and many countries in the Islam world are involved. Also it is a volatile situation, which needs a diplomatic approach to avoid conflict with these countries. This movement has been met with equal deadly force by the western nations especially the United States and the United Kingdom. This has led to terrorism, by certain terror groups with extremist views. They sort terror as a last resort, as a means of guerrilla warfare (Choueiri, 2000).