Middle East: What’s Really Happening

Introduction to the Middle East

1. Geographical and Cultural Scope

Definition of “Middle East”: The term can vary, but it commonly includes countries in Western Asia and parts of North Africa, such as Egypt. The region includes (but is not limited to) Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Turkey.
Strategic Importance: Historically, the Middle East has been at the crossroads of global trade and cultural exchange, bridging Europe, Asia, and Africa. Control of trade routes (e.g., the Silk Road and maritime passages) made it a focus of competing empires for centuries. Today, vast oil and gas reserves make it a critical global energy source.

2. Religious Diversity and Historical Complexity

Three Major Monotheistic Religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all trace significant roots to this region. Islam predominates overall, but the Middle East is not monolithic: there are numerous denominations (Sunni, Shia, Druze, Alawite, various Christian sects, etc.), along with smaller Jewish communities (beyond Israel) and other religions.
Ethnic and Sectarian Diversity: Arab, Persian (Iranian), Turkish, Kurdish, and many more ethnic groups intermingle. The overlap of religious and ethnic identities frequently shapes political alliances, social tensions, and inter-state relations.

3. Political Context and Conflicts

The modern map of the Middle East owes much to colonial-era border-drawing. Over the past century, local populations have often found themselves living in newly formed states that did not necessarily reflect ethnic or religious boundaries. This mismatch laid the groundwork for many of the region’s tensions, civil wars, and cross-border conflicts.

Colonial Legacies: Divisions shaped by colonial agreements (e.g., the Sykes-Picot Agreement after World War I) left certain groups under or overrepresented in new nation-states. Rivalries and feelings of injustice often grew from these arrangements.
Resource Competition: Oil wealth (especially in the Gulf) has affected local politics and global geopolitics. Wealth distribution, foreign influence, and control over resources have fueled proxy wars and interventions by major powers.
Regional Leadership Rivalries: Countries vie for influence—e.g., Saudi Arabia and Iran competing for regional clout, Turkey’s historical Ottoman ties, and Egypt’s strong cultural influence in the Arab world.

4. Ongoing Crises: Palestine and Syria

Palestine–Israel Conflict: This conflict, which dates back to the early 20th century, involves disputes over land, the displacement of populations, and differing national aspirations. Over the years, multiple wars and uprisings have claimed many lives. The situation in Gaza and the West Bank remains a focal point for humanitarian concerns.
Syrian Civil War: Beginning in 2011, the war in Syria has caused massive displacement and loss of life, often described in grave humanitarian terms. The involvement of outside powers, sectarian militias, extremist groups, and regional players has made this crisis one of the most devastating in the modern Middle East.

Observers, analysts, and many in the region have used strong terms (like “ethnic cleansing”) to describe aspects of the violence, highlighting severe humanitarian crises and alleged atrocities. The specific term “ethnic cleansing” is legally and politically contentious, but it underscores the scale of displacement, targeting of civilian populations, and the large-scale humanitarian crises playing out. Meanwhile, global organizations often face criticism for inaction or insufficient action—whether due to the complexity of these conflicts, international rivalries, or paralysis in bodies like the UN Security Council.

5. The Cost of War

Human Toll: The Middle East has endured multiple wars—Arab-Israeli wars, the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988), the Gulf Wars, the War on Terror after 2001, the war in Yemen, and others—leading to millions of deaths and injuries, along with widespread displacement.
Refugee Crisis: Countries like Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey host millions of refugees from Syria, Palestine, and Iraq, among others. Refugee camps often lack sufficient resources, creating a long-term humanitarian burden.
Economic and Social Impact: Repeated conflicts have damaged infrastructure, education, and healthcare systems. Generations have grown up amid warfare and occupation, impacting cultural and societal development.

6. Looking Ahead

This introduction sets the stage for a deeper, country-by-country exploration. In the upcoming articles, we’ll:

Survey each country’s foundational background – historical roots, post-colonial development, and major turning points.
Examine religious and ethnic compositions – how these shape national identities and policy.
Analyze political structures and “intentions” – looking at each nation’s governance style, strategic goals, economic vision, and alliances.
Discuss ongoing challenges – including social movements, conflict risk, international relations, and humanitarian concerns.

By focusing on one country at a time, we can more thoroughly explore each state’s internal dynamics, foreign policy postures, and the varied pressures its government and population face. Along the way, we will endeavor to remain as factual and balanced as possible, acknowledging areas of historical and political debate. We will also discuss the actions—or lack thereof—of global organizations and international powers in addressing crises.

Conclusion

The Middle East is a mosaic of peoples, cultures, religions, and states—united by geography yet deeply divided by political, historical, and sectarian complexities. Understanding these layers is essential for grasping why conflicts persist, why humanitarian crises escalate, and how external powers have influenced outcomes over decades.

In the next article, we’ll begin our country-by-country survey. We will likely start with Egypt, given its long history and cultural influence in the Arab world—but we could also begin with Saudi Arabia or Iran because of their outsized roles in the region’s geopolitics. We’ll then proceed through the rest of the countries systematically, building a more comprehensive view of the Middle East.

Coming Next

Article 2: Egypt – “Mother of the World”: History, religion, and regional influence.