The Second World: Part IVThe Second World: Part IV“In Search of the Middle East”“In Search of the Middle East”

Parag KhannaParag Khanna

Meggan BeneventiMeggan Beneventi

The Shattered BeltThe Shattered Belt

• Globalization is allowing the Globalization is allowing the “shattered belt” to become whole“shattered belt” to become whole

• language and religion are language and religion are reawakening connections with each reawakening connections with each otherother

• Social and economic unrest make Social and economic unrest make the Arab realm a second-world, the Arab realm a second-world, although it possesses all the natural although it possesses all the natural resources: money, labor, and talent, resources: money, labor, and talent, to develop itselfto develop itself

• Arabs are shaping globalizationArabs are shaping globalization• Arabism is constrained by arbitrary Arabism is constrained by arbitrary

colonial borders that Islam provides colonial borders that Islam provides a natural alternative identity. a natural alternative identity. Ideology spreads best when Ideology spreads best when divorced from a specific cultural divorced from a specific cultural context, which explains why Islam context, which explains why Islam and Christianity have become the and Christianity have become the world’s widest reaching religionsworld’s widest reaching religions

• Islamist groups are divided Islamist groups are divided ideologically and slaughter each ideologically and slaughter each other more than non-Muslims other more than non-Muslims

• Islamist parties rally anti-Western Islamist parties rally anti-Western viewsviews

• However, The super powers United However, The super powers United States, EU and China challenge States, EU and China challenge Arabism and Islamism for Arabism and Islamism for supremacysupremacy

The Maghreb: Europe’s Southern ShoreThe Maghreb: Europe’s Southern Shore

• With the stability of oil-producing With the stability of oil-producing West African states and North African West African states and North African gas suppliers at stake, the United gas suppliers at stake, the United States has developed a distinct States has developed a distinct AFRICOM military theater that AFRICOM military theater that coordinates initiatives to curb coordinates initiatives to curb terrorism, illegal weapons shipments, terrorism, illegal weapons shipments, and trafficking in humans.and trafficking in humans.

• Morrocco now has a free trade Morrocco now has a free trade agreement with the United States and agreement with the United States and benefits from additional assistance for benefits from additional assistance for education and women’s rightseducation and women’s rights

• French and American advisors urge French and American advisors urge Morrocco to keep their architecture to Morrocco to keep their architecture to gain revenue through interested gain revenue through interested touriststourists

• Libyan crude is well-suited in the Libyan crude is well-suited in the American marketAmerican market

• After being banned in the 1980’s, After being banned in the 1980’s, English is once again being taught in English is once again being taught in Libyan schools, students can get US Libyan schools, students can get US scholarships scholarships

EgyptEgypt

• Despite the Soviet Union, France and Despite the Soviet Union, France and Britain’s attempt to gain partnership Britain’s attempt to gain partnership with Egypt, America “exploited” with Egypt, America “exploited” Egypt’s need for assistanceEgypt’s need for assistance

• America aids in military and economic America aids in military and economic assistance in Egyptassistance in Egypt

• One Egyptian diplomat says, “[Our] One Egyptian diplomat says, “[Our] relationship with the US isn’t worth relationship with the US isn’t worth the price of their meddling in our the price of their meddling in our politics. We don’t need their leftover politics. We don’t need their leftover weapons and we can build our own weapons and we can build our own sewers.” sewers.”

• China is projected to replace the US as China is projected to replace the US as Egypt’s top trading partnerEgypt’s top trading partner

• ““Imposed democracy is an oxymoron” Imposed democracy is an oxymoron” America is most disliked in countries America is most disliked in countries with US-allied regimeswith US-allied regimes

• Arabs have learned that the West will Arabs have learned that the West will never run out of excuses-oil, never run out of excuses-oil, democracy, terrorism- to intervene in democracy, terrorism- to intervene in their affairs, making Arabism a their affairs, making Arabism a movement both against American movement both against American encroachment and for Arab unityencroachment and for Arab unity

Mashreq (South West Asia) Road MapsMashreq (South West Asia) Road Maps

• 2005 Israel became China’s 2005 Israel became China’s second-largest provider of second-largest provider of weapons behind Russia, China weapons behind Russia, China sells missiles to Iran, Iran targets sells missiles to Iran, Iran targets Israel.Israel.

• Although America pulled out of Although America pulled out of helping Palestine, saying they helping Palestine, saying they cannot have one foot in terror and cannot have one foot in terror and the other in politics, Saudi Arabia, the other in politics, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran stepped in.Egypt and Iran stepped in.

• America uses Jordan as a buffer America uses Jordan as a buffer state and pressured the country state and pressured the country to establish relations with Israelto establish relations with Israel

• In search for Arab allies, America In search for Arab allies, America has become Jordan’s largest has become Jordan’s largest trading partner and is used as an trading partner and is used as an example of positive collaboration example of positive collaboration with Israel with Israel

The Former Iraq: Buffer, Black Hole and Broken BoundaryThe Former Iraq: Buffer, Black Hole and Broken Boundary

• The Iraq war showed that the United The Iraq war showed that the United States as a super power whose States as a super power whose “intelligence does not match its “intelligence does not match its aspiration” aspiration”

• America treated Iraq as if it were for America treated Iraq as if it were for sale, ineffective in differentiating sale, ineffective in differentiating between Arab tribes and Islamic sectsbetween Arab tribes and Islamic sects

• Europe denies its growing presence in Europe denies its growing presence in Iraq, which hurts AmericaIraq, which hurts America

• Iran: America’s most loyal ally, uses Iran: America’s most loyal ally, uses the money from the US oil boom of the the money from the US oil boom of the 70’s to buy weapons to gain autonomy 70’s to buy weapons to gain autonomy from the USfrom the US

• American dealings with Iran is American dealings with Iran is described as hostage politics, because described as hostage politics, because the 1979 revolution and taking of the 1979 revolution and taking of hostages at the American embassy has hostages at the American embassy has clouded all relationsclouded all relations

• In order for America to get its way it In order for America to get its way it will need the help of either EU or Chinawill need the help of either EU or China

SourcesSources

• The Second World: The Second World: Parag Khanna Part IVParag Khanna Part IV