Why has the Middle East historically been the scene of conflicts?

[poolshark5226]

My homework question for Global Insights: Why has the Middle East historically been the scene for conflict?

My answer right now is that a) it's the birthplace of many religions which caused struggles for dominance in the region, and b) after WW1 various states were formed but the boundaries were only loosely defined, which caused a lot of disputes over territory and such.

can anyone else lend an opinion? thanks

[Collegeboy]

Same reason for the Balkans, and Africa and such.

Too many ethnic groups get the smell of nationalism and crap hits the fan.

[Konigballer]

yeah that and its a hell hole.

[Collegeboy]

Originally posted by Konigballer
yeah that and its a hell hole.

Lets be civil here.

[poolshark5226]

Originally posted by Collegeboy


Lets be civil here.

Indeed...being helpful would be nice too

[Collegeboy]

I told you the idea of nationalism is a key factor in the violence in the Middle East since the break up of the Ottoman Empire in 1918.

Add to that the constant interactions between the British and French up until the end of WWII, and then the interactions of the US after that.

Add to that a land of three diverse relegions.

Add to that a land of three diverse cultures.

Add to that a hisotry of fighting.

Etc......

And you ahve a recipie for disaster.

[Python14]

Jist of it?

Everyone overthere hates everyone else because they aren't them. Therefore, they see it fit to kill them, or destroy everything of their. Pee-chee sector of the world.

[poolshark5226]

CB the "being helpful" part was directed at Konig, not you. I appreciate the responces

[FooTemps]

Well... Okay, the middle east has people with strong feelings of nationalism and devotion to their religion. Many of them want to convert others, they will use peaceful means but if necessary, they will be violent about it. If they don't settle it, they just keep fighting. The US and UN interaction and intervention also affected this region greatly.

[Kevmaster]

big one:

three religions all professing different teachings all have their 'birthplaces' there.

I would hardly blame anything on the Brits or French after WWII nor the US in recent years (although it hasnt helped) as there has been religous fighting for over 2000 years.

[PyRo]

Hmm, we took a huge chunk of land and said this is the Jewish homeland. I would say that that is our fault
Too many religions, too many countries (most of which have state sponsored religions where anyone not following it is persecuted). Differant continents meet there. Its just got a whole bunch of problems.

[Collegeboy]

Pick up the book the complete idiots guide to the Middle Eastern Conflict. It is a pretty good book and an easy read.

Sorry about the misinterpretation of your words.

[Albinonewt]

There's several reaons for the constant violence.

First, the middle east is the site of the some of holiest sites in religion, which lead to things like the crusades. There was fighting in the middle east from the beginning, but at the time the Arab Lands were beacons of civilization. They had science that the Europeans hadn't ever thought of.

Second, as mentioned, there are different types of Arabs that live in the Middle East and the borders of countries have nothing to do with the demographics of these diffrent people. One of the reasons that Saudi Arabia had such a problem with the Iraq war is that the Sauds have a very large Kurdish population located right next to the large Iraqi Kurdish population, and that's where all the Saud oil is. Should the Kurds decide to form their own Kurdish state Saudi Arabia disappears overnight.

Third, For the past couple of centuries the Middle East has become an economic and cultural wreak. No significant progress has been made there on any front for a very long time. The people are starving and poor. The leaders are corrupt and rich. The oil is state owned and the people get none of the spoils. Fundamentalism has become a way of life for many. It has become a region of the world that is almost designed to breed hatred and ignorance (literacy rates are almost non existant)

[MarkM]

The middle east in so far as Irag, Saudi, Kuwait etc were not countries until the end of the first world war they were arab regions all ruled by tribal leaders and in most case the Arabs were still nomads the borders were created by the british and french after kicking the Turks out of the region...the Arabs were royaly butt F...d by the british/french who at the time (as is the case now by other interests) were protecting their oil and biz interests...as far as Iraq is concerned they had installed a puppet Royalty of a tribal leader who was not interested or connected with the northern arab tribes especially the Kurds. The Arabs wanted a, for want of a better word, "super state" read up on TE Laurence who although a british officer was responsible for mobilising the Arabs against the Turks and was for an Arab "super state" not lots of little countrys (ok some are not so little but in the scheme of things they became that). It was a conflict waiting to happen...not how it turned out eventually but it was going to happen in some way or another due to the border creations. The protection of continued oil/biz interest protection happened well after the second world war as well and became the Suez crisis. Also a little later a similar event happened in Oman as that controlled the seaway to allow the oil tankers through into the Indian Ocean. The most recent we all have seen in the papers and on the news services.

[beam]

Isaac vs. Ishmael