How has the move for self-rule led to turmoil among the countries of the Middle East?

1 Answer
Nov 14, 2016

I think you are referring to "Arab Spring" since most Arab countries have had Independence for a while.

Explanation:

The Arabs made a great contribution to the destruction of the Ottoman Empire during World War 1 and felt that they should be allowed to function as Independent states. The British and French thought otherwise and created Areas of Influence and puppet Monarchies. This view was taken to insure supplies to the West of oil and keep the countries from establishing Islamic States which would be difficult to deal with.

Saudi Arabia was taken over by force by the family of Saud in the 1920s. They established an Islamic State.

Post World War 2 Both the British and the French were in no financial state to support the forces necessary to control the Colonial Empires that they had had and the Americans made sign agreements during the War to allow their colonies self rule.

There were military coups. The Monarchies and the Military dictatorships all acted like brutal dictatorships. In 1979 the Shah was overthrown in Iran and an Islamic state was established. The Islamist gained some momentum.

Over the time there rose a middle class educated urban part of Middle Eastern society. These people were educated businessmen, professionals and people in the technological industries who created a "secular" society within the nations that they lived. They and their children wanted a more open, modern society with democratic institutions and protections.

"Arab Spring" was the result.

Arab Spring generally failed for reasons related to the makeup of the individual countries involved. A major difficulty was the Islamists of various sects would be a popular majority in many Middle Eastern countries, so democracy would necessarily make an Islamic State. There is strong resistance to the establishment of Islamic states. (i.e. Egypt) Also the forces of the established dictatorship might be too strong (i.e. Syria). The overall result was violence and civil upheaval, some of which is still occurring, to no particular positive result.