Middle East Politics Week 11 - Foreign Interventions

Middle East Politics: Week 11 - Foreign Interventions

• Foreign intervention is the interference of one state or external entity in another state's internal affairs.
• Methods of intervention include: military action, economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure, covert operations, and humanitarian aid.

Intervention Motivations (1): Security and Strategic Interests

• Interventions are sometimes taken to prevent perceived threats from rival states, extremist groups, or destabilizing forces.
• The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) saw the US intervene to prevent the Soviet Union from placing nuclear missiles in Cuba, seeing this as a direct threat.
• The Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) saw multiple states, including the US, intervene to counter the perceived threat posed by Iran's revolutionary government.

Intervention Motivations (2): Economic Interests and Resources

• Interventions can be related to securing access to resources or trade routes through economic agreements, military presence, or support for favorable governments.
• The British colonization of India (1757-1947) involved exploiting resources (cotton, tea, spices) and securing trade routes.
• The US invasion of Iraq (2003) was partly motivated by securing access to Iraq's oil reserves, although security concerns were also cited.

Intervention Motivations (3): Ideological and Political Influence

• Some interventions aim to spread a state's political ideology or prevent the spread of a rival ideology, especially common during the Cold War.
• The Vietnam War (1955-1975) saw the US intervene to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.
• The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979) was to support the communist Afghan government, fearing the loss of communist influence.

Intervention Motivations (4): Humanitarian Reasons

• Interventions are sometimes justified on humanitarian grounds to prevent genocide, mass atrocities, or severe human rights abuses.
• The NATO intervention in Kosovo (1999) aimed to stop ethnic cleansing.
• The NATO intervention in Libya (2011) aimed to prevent civilian casualties.

Intervention Motivations (5): Ally Support and Proxies

• Interventions can be to support allied governments or factions within a state to maintain influence or prevent a rival power from gaining a foothold.
• US support for South Korea (1950-1953) during the Korean War sought to prevent the spread of communism.
• Iran's support for Hezbollah in Lebanon aimed to increase its influence.

Intervention Motivations (6): Territory & Border Disputes

• Interventions can involve expanding territory, resolving border disputes, or asserting control over contested regions.
• Russia's annexation of Crimea (2014) involved intervening in Ukraine to annex Crimea.
• Iraq's invasion of Kuwait (1990) was motivated by territorial claims and disputes over oil fields.

Intervention Motivations (7): Domestic Distraction

• Interventions can be used to distract citizens from domestic issues or to gain political support through appealing to nationalism (diversionary wars).
• Argentina's invasion of the Falkland Islands (1982) was partially to distract from domestic unrest.
• Turkey's incursions into Northern Syria (2016-Present) were partly to shift attention from domestic economic problems and gain nationalist support.

Overview of Foreign Involvement in MENA

• Colonial powers (Britain, France, and Italy) shaped the region through colonization policies during the 1950s.
• The Cold War saw rivalry between the US and USSR.
• Post-Cold War, the US and its allies held influence.
• Russia re-engaged in foreign policy in the region following Arab Spring.

Early Cold War Era (1945-1960s)

• The US aimed to prevent Soviet influence, secure oil access, and ensure stability.
• Strong alliances with Saudi Arabia and Iran were formed.
• The US played a role in the establishment of Israel.
• The Soviet Union supported anti-imperialist and socialist movements.

Cold War Gets Hot Era (1970s-1980s)

• The Arab-Israeli oil crisis caused the US to increase engagement in the region.
• The US developed alliances with key Middle Eastern countries supporting oil supplies and combating the Soviet influence.
• The Soviet Union armed and supported key rivals of the U.S.

Post-Cold War Era (1990s-2000s)

• The US led a coalition to liberate Kuwait, marking its military presence in the Gulf.
• The US adopted a “dual containment” policy against Iraq and Iran.
• Ties to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states strengthened,
• The September 11th attacks led to the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Arab Spring to Present

• The US initially supported democratic movements, although inconsistently.
• Russia reasserted its influence in the Middle East in the Syrian Civil War.
• Russia expanded influence through diplomatic, military, and economic partnerships.

Explore the complexities of foreign interventions in the Middle East during Week 11. This quiz covers the motivations behind these interventions, including security, strategic interests, economic factors, and historical examples such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Iran-Iraq War. Test your knowledge on how these dynamics shape regional politics.