SWANA Review PDF

SWANA Review Vocab ​ Gender Inequality Index (GII)- Comparison between the treatment of men v. women using Government, Economic & Education. ​ Fundamentalism- Form of religion, usually in Islam or Protestant Christianity, that upholds belief in the strict, literal interpretation of...

SWANA Review Vocab ​ Gender Inequality Index (GII)- Comparison between the treatment of men v. women using Government, Economic & Education. ​ Fundamentalism- Form of religion, usually in Islam or Protestant Christianity, that upholds belief in the strict, literal interpretation of scripture. ​ Terrorism- Involves a violent act or an act dangerous to human life, property, or infrastructure. ​ Monotheism- Belief in one God. ​ Stateless nation- An ethnic group without a found country. ​ Desertification - Process in which arable land becomes desert. ​ Choke Point- A strategic, narrow, waterway between two larger bodies of water. ​ Geopolitics- Government policy as it or influencer by physical human, and economic geo. ​ Desalination- The removal of salt from brackish groundwater to make it usable for drinking and irrigation. ​ Taliban- From Arabic for “seeker” or “student”, name of a fundamentalist Sunni muslim group, active in Afghanistan, which controlled the Afghan government from 1996-2001. Religion ​ Judaism -The oldest religion, Abraham's covenant, promised a great nation, the Hebrews or Israelites. Despite facing challenges, they were enslaved in Egypt until Moses led them to freedom through the Exodus. -Believe in one God, Holy scriptures like Torah, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Ten Commandments, future leader, Messiah, Sabbath, Passover, and liberation from slavery. -Judaism is divided into Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist sects. Around 14 million Jews live globally, with significant populations in the US, Canada, Europe, and Israel. Israel's creation led to ongoing conflicts. ​ Christianity -Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, both rooted in early Christian teachings, experienced the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, while Eastern Orthodoxy, originating in modern-day Israel, is a significant branch.  -Jesus preached love, compassion, and forgiveness, emphasized righteous living, eternal life through faith, and Eucharist. Major holidays include Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter, emphasizing acts of charity. -Over 2.3 billion Christians worldwide identify as the largest religion. Western countries have influenced Christian values, while Iraq and Syria have seen a decline. In Israel, Christianity is recognized alongside Judaism and Islam, with significant Christian sites and Christian organizations. ​ Islam -The Islamic Empire, founded by Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century, spread Islam across Spain to India, contributing to advancements in math, science, art, and literature. -Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj, Quran, dietary restrictions, Friday prayers, mosque gatherings, Ramadan fasting, prayer, reflection, and dietary restrictions are essential religious practices. -Islam has two largest sects: Sunni (85-90% Muslims) and Shia (10-15%), with Sunni believing Muhammad named a successor and Shia believing Muhammad named Ali. Islam influences Middle East laws, governance, and extremist groups' actions. SWANA ESPN ​ Economics- The Arabian Peninsula, rich in natural resources and oil and gas reserves, has a significant tourism industry, including luxury hotels and resorts, and has formed economic alliances to promote cooperation. ​ Social- Middle Eastern countries predominantly consist of Muslims, with diverse groups including Arabs, Turks, Iranians, Afghanistan, and Kurds, each with their own unique social norms and customs. ​ Political-Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Iran, Turkey, Iraq, and Israel are monarchies, republics, and key US ally regions. Conflict, internal divisions, and external interventions fuel instability. ​ Environmental- The Fertile Crescent, a region with fertile soil and ancient civilizations, is home to 60% of the world's petroleum resources and covers ½ of SW Asia and North Africa. ​ Conflict- The Arab-Israel Conflict, centered around Israel's establishment, has led to numerous wars and ongoing tensions in the region. The Six-Day War in 1967 resulted in Israel gaining control of the Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights, West Bank, and East Jerusalem. The Yom Kippur War in 1973 saw Arab nations attempting to regain territories lost. The Persian Gulf War in 1990 led to economic sanctions on Iraq. Oil and Water ​ Water Scarcity- The Middle East's arid climate, limited rainfall, rapid population growth, urbanization, and agricultural development are affecting water resources, leading to tension and conflict among countries. ​ Water as a Weapon- Water access triggers political tension and control, with shared water resources becoming a significant challenge. Middle East conflicts include Turkey's dam plans, Syria's damming of the Euphrates, and Jordanian-Israeli nations working together to divert water supplies. ​ Possible Solutions to the water crisis -Desalination, The process of removing salt and impurities from seawater to produce freshwater is widely used in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait. -Treated Wastewater, Advanced technologies can help conserve freshwater resources by purifying sewage water for irrigation, industrial processes, and drinking, and using it for recycling or recycling. -Imports, Advanced technologies can help conserve freshwater resources by purifying sewage water for irrigation, industrial processes, and drinking, and using it for recycling or recycling. -Alternative Water sources, Rainwater harvesting involves collecting and storing rainwater for various uses, while fog harvesting captures moisture from fog using nets, and groundwater recharge replenishes underground aquifers artificially. -Possible solutions to the water crisis, Promoting water-saving practices in agriculture, industry, and households can reduce water demand and ensure sustainable use of limited resources. Implementing efficient irrigation techniques, fixing leaks, and raising awareness about conservation can help. -Oil Resources In the middle East, The Middle East, with its vast oil reserves, has significantly influenced the region's economic growth, investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and industrialization, leading to job creation and improved living standards. -Impact in the Global Economy, The Middle East, with its abundant oil resources, is a significant player in the global oil market, with complex political relationships and conflicts often arising due to its dependence. -Organization of petroleum exporting countries, Established in 1960, the organization aims to coordinate petroleum policies among member countries, ensure stable prices, secure fair returns, and supply a steady global oil supply. -OPEC in the middle east, The 1973 Oil Embargo, led by Saudi Arabia, imposed an embargo on oil exports to countries supporting Israel in the Yom Kippur War, leading to a surge in oil prices and fuel shortages.  -Choke Point, A choke point is a narrow channel connecting two larger bodies of water, crucial for oil and petroleum production, reducing shipping distance and potentially increasing global energy prices due to disruptions. -Suez Canal, The Red Sea-Mediterranean canal in northern Egypt is crucial for oil and petroleum products, affecting energy security globally. Conflict could force vessels to use alternate routes, increasing shipping times and costs, and directly impacting global oil and petroleum prices. -Strait of Hormuz, The Persian Gulf, connecting Oman and Iran, is the world's most significant oil choke point, with 22 million barrels flown daily in 2022, and responsible for 21% of global petroleum products. Arab-Israeli Conflict ​ Historical Background- Palestine, a region inhabited by Canaanites, Hebrews, Romans, and Arabs, was under Ottoman control in the early 20th century, but collapsed after World War I. ​ British Mandate & Zionist Movement- After World War I, Alestine was under British control through a League of Nations mandate. The British Mandate (1922-1948) granted Jewish and Arab communities internal affairs, leading to conflict and the Zionist Movement for Jewish state. ​ Reaction on Modern-Day Israel- In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition plan for Palestine, which was accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by Arab nations and Palestinians, leading to the 1948 state of Israel. ​ Conflict and Peace Efforts- The Six-Day War and Yom Kippur War, Camp David Accords, Oslo Accords, and Abraham Accords were all significant events in international relations, with the Abraham Accords establishing normalized relations between Israel, Bahrain, UAE, Morocco, and Sudan. ​ Key Issues and Sticking Points- The Six-Day War and Yom Kippur War, Camp David Accords, Oslo Accords, and Abraham Accords were all significant events in international relations, with the Abraham Accords establishing normalized relations between Israel, Bahrain, UAE, Morocco, and Sudan. ​ Hamas- Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya, an Islamic Resistance Movement established in 1987, aims to liberate Palestine from Israeli control and establish an Islamic state, labeled a terrorist organization by the US and Israel. ​ Hamas Attack- October 7, 2023- Hamas launched a coordinated attack on Israeli military and civilian targets, prompting Israel to respond with airstrikes, ground operations, and security measures, with a ceasefire negotiation underway. Arab Spring ​ Background- In late 2010, protests and revolutions in Muslim countries like Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Libya, Egypt, and Bahrain aimed for less corruption and more democratic government forms. ​ Tunisia- Mohammed Bouazizi committed suicide in Sidi Bouzid in 2010 protesting President Zine El Adidine Ben Ali's authoritarian rule, fleeing to Saudi Arabia, leading to democratic elections in 2011. ​ Libya- Protesters in Libya used the internet to protest, leading to clashes with the government and the overthrow of Muammar Qaddafi in October 2011. ​ Egypt- In 2011, Egypt experienced protests against President Hosni Mubarak, leading to his resignation and the election of Mohamed Morsi as the first democratic president. *Syria- Protestors use Facebook and Twitter to organize a "Day of Rage," leading to government suppression, civil war, and refugees, with ISIS declaring a caliphate in NE Syria. (Country assigned) ​ Bahrain- The Arab Spring saw the largest protest per capita in the country, with the government suppressing protest efforts and viewed as a "police state" due to high political prisoners and dissenters. ​ Yemen- Protests against corruption led to Ali Abdullah Saleh's resignation in late 2011, sparking a civil war in Yemen, causing infrastructure damage and tribal warfare.v