Understanding Modern Understanding Modern Middle East PoliticsMiddle East Politics

Dr. Curtis RyanDr. Curtis RyanAppalachian State Appalachian State

UniversityUniversity

The Muslim World TodayThe Muslim World Today

Religion, Society & EconomyReligion, Society & Economy

ReligionsReligions– Islam, Christianity, Islam, Christianity,

and Judaismand Judaism EthnicityEthnicity

– Arabs, Turks, Arabs, Turks, Persians, KurdsPersians, Kurds

EconomicsEconomics– Oil … haves and Oil … haves and

have-notshave-nots

The Ottoman Empire, 1300-1923The Ottoman Empire, 1300-1923

Nationalism and ImperialismNationalism and Imperialism

Mandates, Colonies, and Mandates, Colonies, and ProtectoratesProtectorates

1947: U.N. Partition of Palestine1947: U.N. Partition of Palestine

States and RegimesStates and Regimes

Regime Types inThe Middle East

Monarchies:Saudi Arabia, Jordan,

Morocco, Kuwait, Oman Bahrain, Qatar, UAE

Secular Republics:Egypt, Algeria, Turkey,

Tunisia, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq (?)

Theocracies:Iran

Islamism and OppositionIslamism and Opposition

OrganizationOrganization NationalityNationality Religious Religious SectSect

Muslim Muslim BrotherhoodBrotherhood

Throughout Throughout Arab WorldArab World

Sunni MuslimSunni Muslim

HamasHamas PalestinianPalestinian Sunni MuslimSunni Muslim

HizbullahHizbullah LebaneseLebanese Shia MuslimShia Muslim

Mahdi ArmyMahdi Army IraqiIraqi Shia MuslimShia Muslim

Al-Qa’idaAl-Qa’ida InternationalInternational Sunni MuslimSunni Muslim