How We Got to Now:A Brief Overview of Some Key

Events in Modern Middle Eastern History

ISIS Teach-in

Nov. 11, 2014

Background to Islamic Revivalism• Islamic history up to the 18th century gave Muslims little reason to doubt the superiority of their civilization• However, European imperialism in the Muslim world in 19th century began to create a crisis of confidence and faith• The collapse of the Ottoman Empire as a result of World War I allowed Western powers to redraw the map of the Middle East to suit their interests but with arbitrary boundaries• Nationalism and anti-colonialism surge in response• What impact did this have on Muslims?

Differing responses – Was Islam the answer or a root of the problem?

Hasan al-Banna 1906-19491928 - Muslim Brotherhood

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk 1881-1938Founder of Modern Turkey

Secular nationalists had the upper hand for much of the 20th century but their perceived failure

opens the door for Islamic revival

Gamel Abdul NasserEgypt

Saddam HusseinIraq

Hafez al-AsadSyria

3 Key Events in 1979• Iranian Revolution – pro-Western Shah

replaced by Islamic regime under Khomeini– Demonstrates force of Islam as a viable

indigenous political ideology to affect change and transform society

– Inspires both Shi’ite and Sunni Islamists throughout the region to mobilize

– Threatens both secular leaders and traditional monarchs

3 Key Events in 1979• Soviet invasion of Afghanistan creates arena

for a modern jihad– Thousands of Afghan refugees fled to camps in

Pakistan where guerrillas were armed and funded by US to return and attack the Russians

– Joined by fighters from other Muslim countries– Saudis provide funding for Salafist/Wahhabi

education in the camps – students called talibs– Soviet Union’s withdrawal in 1989 and subsequent

collapse convinced many Islamic fighters they had brought down a super power

– Force of experienced, motivated fighters available to defend Islam elsewhere

3 Key Events in 1979• Radical militants’ seizure of the Great

Mosque in Mecca ended by violent assault– Indicates Saudi vulnerability on their religious

legitimacy

– Wahhabism given free reign domestically and exported internationally

– Huge funding for mosques and schools throughout the Muslim world

– Rivalry with Iran – which best epitomizes a true Muslim State?

Spread of Islamist Movements in the 1980’s

• Islamic Jihad assassinates President Anwar Sadat in Egypt 1981

• Muslim Brotherhood mounts uprisings in Syria; Hafez al-Assad kills over 30,000 in crushing it

• Shi’ite Hezbollah emerges after Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982

• Hamas organized in 1987 during Intifada uprising in occupied Palestine

The Theoretician of Violence• Shocked by US society during stay as a student 1948-1949

• Joined Muslim Brotherhood on return but imprisoned and eventually executed under Nasser in 1966

• Felt Muslim world had reverted to pre-Islamic ignorance (jahiliyyah) due to lack of Shari’a

• Must fight not only against secularism and West but also Muslim governments to restore true Islam

• Violence fully justified in purifying and restoring Islam

Sayyid Qutb

The Saudi Connection• Asylum given to exiled Egyptian radicals

including Muhammad Qutb, Sayyid’s brother• Wahhabi influence and jihadist ideas spread in

education system • Oil wealth makes funds available from

government and private individuals• Saudi cooperation with US in 1991 war with Iraq

over Kuwait further alienates radicals

Ayman al-Zawahiri b. 1951

• Egyptian Ideology and Saudi Money joined in al-Qaeda• 1991 US invasion of Kuwait used Saudi bases; force remained• Makes US and Saudis next target• World Trade Center and Washington attacked 9/11/2001• “War on Terror” ensues

Osama bin Laden 1957-2011

Al-Qaeda Ideas Go Global

• Franchises, imitators, and wannabes in Yemen, Somalia, North Africa, the Sahara, Nigeria, Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere

• Spring up within weak or “failed states”• Join and try to use internal conflicts • No overall “control” or leadership• ISIS as al-Qaeda 3.0