A Few Months In Review

              How can I surmise International Politics of the Middle East? One of the most beneficial experiences over the past 4 months has been writing in this blog. This has been a great opportunity to discuss and think about the different topics I have been reading and learning about. It has also been great to get a chance to focus on a region and some specific topics in that region. Working specifically on North Africa has truly been a pleasure. I have had a great time learning and working on the identities, ideologies, and cultures of North Africa. Western Sahara really has revealed itself to be an interesting place. I will be traveling to Morocco soon and I think this area which I have been specializing in will really be useful. My trip will truly be a capstone experience.

Sweds Step Up

Swedish Parliament moves to recognize Sahrawi State : Good work Sweden


This comes just a month after Swedish boats were caught illegally fishing off of Western Saharan coast : Suspect

My Quick Brief on North Africa: Identities part 4

My Quick Brief on North Africa: Identities part 3

My Quick Brief on North Africa: Identities Continued

My Quick Brief on North Africa: Identities

                   Recently My colleagues and I were given the opportunity to present a quick brief on North Africa, below is the Prezi Presentation we used as well as some videos of my small portion.

                  I wanted to write about a few edits I would make to my presentation. Later in the Part 3 I say Sadat, looking for reaffirmation. Obviously the name I was striving for was Nassar who was President of Egypt In the late 1950s not Anwar Sadat in the 1970s. I also had a chance to extrapolate on Western Sahara and how Morocco claims the territory out of their own Nationalist goals for a “Greater Morocco”. Finally I wish I would have used the takeover by Islamists in Northern Mali as an example of fundamental Islamic groups in the region.

http://prezi.com/vqsl9jf44ec1/posc-277/?kw=view-vqsl9jf44ec1&rc=ref-25661121

Additionally I apologize for the quality and number of videos (continued on new post)

UN observer status for Western Sahara?

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2012/12/western-sahara-un-observer-status.html

Judging Statehood

There is a basic set of guidelines that come out of the 1933 Montevideo Convention. A number of American states met to discuss the duties and rights of states. The treaty that was ratified has set the standard for how we define a state and basically amended the way we view the state system. This was the major marker of states and the international system since the peace of Westphalia in the 17th century.

 The three basic de Jure state requirements are; sovereignty, borders, and a people.

Firstly borders that a clearly defined are an essential part of the modern state system. A group like al-Qaeda can not be considered a state because they do not have a clearly defined territory, quite down you pan-Islam supporters. Next, a group of people; so the center of the Gobi desert does not have a population and therefore can not be a state. America for example has both borders and a defined population.... Americans! Lastly a government of monopoly of force across those people within those boundaries; A state needs a government a source of control. The type doesn't really matter as long as there is some sort of political rule over the area.

While these three are basic de Jure state requirements there is an essential de facto requirement; International recognition. This is where becoming a state is tricky. Many places which have a people, boundaries, and a government do not have international recognition. Somali land and Kosovo are both areas which are slowly gaining acceptance from other states.  The number of states who recognize a newly formed state and the influence of those accepting have a lot of weight when it comes to determining if the alleged government actually represents a state. International acceptance currently results in an invitation to join the United Nations. Next I will apply some test cases to determine if current states meet these requirements.

The Last Colony

                       This article is a continuation of my two major themes. Statehood and Modern colonialism. Turns out Western Sahara has major elements of both. The statehood question ill analyze later but the Colonialist issue is easy to tackle. The territory of Western Sahara was actually part of the major European colonial power grab in Africa. Late to the table Spain took over the area of Western Sahara around 1884. This colonialist occupation was slow and very hands off. The Spanish stayed mainly on the coastal areas and didn’t have many Spaniards in country. This hand off colonialism continue until the post-world war two de-colonialist effort.

                   During the liberation of Africa the Spanish had planned to release Western Sahara but forces in morocco and Mauritania invaded the territory and attempted to occupy it. The Polisario front represented the native Sahrawi move for independence and they eventually defeated Mauritania. The Moroccans replaced the Spanish as controllers of the territory. They had marched an army into the territory and claimed that they were reuniting old Morocco. The United Nations and other international organizations called for liberation of the Sahrawi people. Algeria took up the Sahrawi cause and supported the independence movement. The area of Western Sahara is still under the control of the Moroccans and is one of the few colonies still intact and under the control of another country. Western Sahara is the last holdout of colonialism in the modern world.

Western Sahara : Arab Spring ?

           I recently read some interesting comments by Noam Chomsky on the Arab Spring. He promotes the Idea that the Struggle of Self-governance in Western Sahara is part of the Arab Spring. He puts forth the Arab spring is identified by two factors: first that the issue is of a socio-economic nature. In the majority of the countries with these Arab spring protests it is evident that economic issues played a huge role in the developing protests and in some cases the overthrowing of governments. Next that the fight against authoritarian governments. Mubarak, Ben Ali, and Sahel all can be shown in an authoritarian light. Each could be classified as authoritarian rulers.

            In Western Sahara’s struggle for self-governance both of these factors still apply. The socio-economic conditions of Western Sahara are similar and in most cases worse than the majority of North Africa. Being one of the poorest countries in the world with serious economic issues it is easy to link this to some of the areas unrest. The rule of Mohammed VI underwent some minor reforms during the Arab Spring but not nearly and of the drastic changes that were called for. The very wealthy king is not really shown as an example of authoritarian government, but his dynasties rule could be classified as such. If the Moroccan rule of Western Sahara is considered an occupation or as outside control is would be easy to link the desires of some Western Saharans for self-governance with that of the protests of the Arab spring.

               Personally I see this conflict as a last holdout of colonial and not really in the context of the modern Arab spring. But Noam Chomsky’s point is very interesting and does make a lot of sense.

Also theres a really good conversation going on > here about this subject

Individuals Do Matter

The field of History has changed before the 1970s the majority of historians wrote what we call Great Men’s History. The story of the world was told through important individuals. More Recently History has transformed into a larger subject, where those who had not previously had a voice could now speak. It is interesting that we are still having a debate of the importance of individuals when any American 7^th grader can tell you American won the revolution because of George Washington or can explain the importance of Abraham Lincoln (think History Channels new series The Men Who Built America). To be honest it doesn’t matter if these people actually had a huge effect on History, because perception is reality, if we think these people are important and that Individuals matter then Individuals can make a difference.

 

Bringing this specifically to the Middle East there are several examples of Important Individuals. Sadam Hussein, Sadat, Reza Shah, Attaturk, and so many more powerful men (Golda Meir, Let’s not forget the powerful women) have helped shape the Middle East. Some of these men were from the region others have been from outside it, Sykes and Picot, and several American Presidents to name a few. However one individual has had a profound effect on the Middle East and is still affecting it today, a man so important his image can not be shown, The Prophet Muhammad, Peace be upon him. He is the greatest example of an important individual in the Middle East.

God may have found another follower but he chooses Muhammad whose actions dictate the Hadiths and inspire the salafists. Muhammad relayed the word of God and since it is God’s word in the Quran and not his own, he may not seem to be that important. But his daily life, actions and other sayings are still a large collection of work that Muslims analyzes and try to live by today. Even his sayings are interpreted and fought over. Specifically in the case of the next leader, some Muslims suggest that Muhammad and declared Ali his successor while others disagree strongly. Anyone who suggests that individuals are not important need only look at the effect Muhammad has had on the world.

Western Sahara: History part 1

                 Along with my series on modern orientalism I will also be writing about Western Sahara. Western Sahara is an interesting place with an even more interesting history. Originally Inhabited by the Berber Speaking peoples, present day Western Sahara was been shaped a lot by Islam. Islam came across North Africa after the Arab conquest. Since the Arab expansion and empirical rule, North Africa has been a defined by the mix of Arab and Berber cultures. During one of the most interesting periods of time, the colonial period, Spain claimed Western Sahara as part of its territorial possessions.  In the north the country of Morocco later came under Spanish rule as well. Morocco had large influencing from a strong French protectorate as well. The Spanish rule of Western Sahara would change drastically during the mid-20^th century, starting with Moroccan independence in the 1950s.

 

               Further loss of Spanish colonies continued in the 1970s when the Spanish began to promise a possible established independent Western Sahara. Instead the countries of Mauritania and Morocco established a joint rule over the area because of historic claims. From here the Moroccan troops invaded and now control the region. With Algeria stepping in to support independence of the Sahrawi people (the Polisaro front). After the mid-1970s a number of small diplomatic changes occur which I will emphasize later. In the future I will begin to address the idea of whether or not Western Saharans could be on a tract for statehood or if they are left behind in an old colonial system.

Water Usage

Water Usage Diary and Interpretation

Ok so for those of you who didn’t know, the Middle East is running out of water. Turns out the stereotypical dessert region, doesn’t have a lot of water…go figure. The increase in population, agriculture and industrialization has led to an increase demand for water on the already limited resource.

I was excited to learn that my average water consumption might be lee then the American average.

 

And then immediately disappointed to learn I was way above the average of people living in North Africa.

 

My water foot print comes mainly from food. This is also part of the major problem in North Africa. The stereotypical desert region has been attempting to increase its food security by growing more and more food, in conjunction with its higher demands from its growing population.  

 

 

 

 

Now as a orientalists I have to say I want my Middle East dry, dry as a bone. So why bother growing food there? Yes I know food security, trade security, nationalism etc… but it’s easier to grow food elsewhere, most of the Middle East wasn’t made for that. The Middle East would save more water buying their food elsewhere. Yes it might have been the British demand for cotton that moved Egypt into a new form of cash crop agriculture but that’s the exception in North Africa. Algeria is mainly dessert and it doesn’t make sense to grow a lot of food there.

 

Ok besides stopping agriculture (or cash crop growth …looking at you Yemen), what else could the Middle East do to save its water resources.

Have Less People, there are two options to reduce the burden on a resource, Increase the supply or reduce the demand. If there were less people (it is a region where the population is not sustainable) then there would be less demand for the resource.

Now realistically the region needs to come together and work on solutions that would benefit the entire region. Cooperation over mutual resources, cutting back water usage, efficient growing techniques and plants (drop that Kat), and an increase in desalination plants.

Reading for Colonialists

http://www.amazon.com/White-Mans-World-Memories-Empire/dp/019929691X

Powellism is a darker side of this theory so I will probably ignore this realistic application of romanticism

Required Video for all Modern Oreintalists

M.I.A. Bad Girls

Romanticized Colonialists

To be honest I am part of the "problem". When Said and others talk about Westerners stereotyping the Middle East, he is taking about me. Of course I like the Idea of an exotic mysterious different place in the world. Who wouldn’t want to travel to a region of adventure and excitement?  Have I romanticized the region? Yes! But isn’t that part of the allure? Of course if I went to Egypt I’d want to see pyramids. I want to trade in a Berber suk, ride a camel, and have a nomadic adventure. Is there really anything wrong with that? Attitudes like this have allowed the Middle East to develop tourist attractions, to make money for their people. Hey, if you got it flaunt it! This desire for a nomadic adventure has allowed small oasis towns to develop tourist industry and become a desirable travel destination to those who watched Lawrence of Arabia and the Man Who Would Be King, one too many times. Sure we are Romanticized Colonialists, but is it really wrong to appreciate the exoticness of the Middle East? There is sense of “Otherness” the culture is different but let’s embrace it and not run from it.

All Politics Are Local

All Politics are Local

 

The Middle East is not only a region, but it is also a system of states. These states all have their own domestic politics. These different systems of local politics affect not only what happens internally in these countries but also in the region as a whole. The Idea that all politics are local suggest that the things that happen in one small area, close to the individuals level effect what happens on the international level.

The best way to talk about this idea is through examples

So In Lancaster County many people may not have felt the same economic changes have in other parts of the country. Because of our diverse and locally driven economy as well as a strong tourist industry our local views of the economy are very different then someone who lives in Detroit (fall of the auto industry …need I say more).

 

So maybe an individual in Lancaster may think things are not as bad as they seem and therefore think we don’t need President Obama to make things better and instead vote for Mitt Romney.

 

 

This can work in many different ways that same individual from Lancaster could make their electoral decision off of several local factors, including political parties, Lancaster has a strong local GOP so maybe they would vote for Mitt Romney because of that.

 

In Lancaster they do it yourself attitude is prevalent among the conservative Mennonites so maybe they would vote for the President because they think he built himself up from nothing whereas Mitt Romney was born into wealth.

 

The point is reason the political system shifts in different directions is because of the attitudes of individuals on the local level not on how they feel about national policy.

What is "The Region"

Ok to briefly digress from my working theory on Romanticized colonialism:
We need to backtrack and talk about the Region and what this thing called the "Middle East" is.
Let's skip the idea of what a region is and let's charge into the question, "What is the Middle East"

The Middle East as a phrase comes to us from the British Empire. This area was East of London but not as far east as India. This area has a historic connection. The Arab conquest which spread a religion and a culture across the modern Middle East created the Middle East. Areas on the fringe of this empire are at times considered either in the Middle East or are in another region at different times. But the Core states of this region are linked because of their shared past. The areas which the Arab empire stretched to are in the present day Middle East. The exceptions to this are areas like southern Spain, which has been brought back into the European fold.

This area was untied through religion and culture. However, they are not exactly the same. Arabs are not the only ones in the region and not all of the Middle East is based on Arab culture. There has been a mix of cultures that have spread across this region thanks to the Persians, the Turks, and the Mongolians.

Besides a shared history this region exists as the Middle East mainly because of the British. During colonialism and the era of the British Empire, the powers of the western world lumped this region together. Even though there are several differences between a Moroccan Berber and a Persian Muslim in Iran. It was the West through both terminology and foreign affairs who created the Middle East.

The Middle East is such because of both the 19^th century British and the 7^th century Arabs.

Romanticized Colonialism Images

Check out the Ralph Lauren Add

http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/04/05/romanticizing-colonialism/


Getting the full tourist experience

 

 

The Sexy Oreint

 

Romanticizing Colonialism

Ive been thinking a lot about colonialism lately. Particularly the cycle of tourism, romanticism, western otherness. It seems to go against my conception of education and my "we are not to different theory". Hopefully Ferris from Alkhaleejblog will join in on this discussion.

-Alex

My Political Image

Political Identity Infographic

Others

                    I could have explored the topic of Others by talking about the Amish in Lancaster or the international students at Dickinson but instead I decided to sit Down with Professor Erik Love from Dickinson College to discuss Muslims in America. Some of my questions were not serious but rather an attempt to dispel some widely held stereotypes about Muslims in America. As Professor Love points out, the Muslim community in America is really no different than any other group in America. There may be some cultural differences but in the end, we are all Americans. 

 

 

                         Mine and Professor Love's point is that Muslims in America are just like any member of our community: they are not others, they are our brothers.

Youth Identity in North Africa

                In  Louise Fawcett’s International Relations of the Middle East ne brings up Libya and Col Gaddafi twice   in his third chapter.  In one instance he draws attention to the problem of youthening population with ageing leadership as well as handpicked succession. This book published in 2009 brings up Egypt’s Mubarak, Col Gaddafi, Syria, Morocco, and Jordan.  In 2009, when this work was published Fawcett couldn’t have known what would take place two years later, but it is interesting to look at this issue. It is necessary to delve deeper into how this young population in North Africa came to the conclusion that their leaders were no longer sufficient. All three of these North African countries went through some level of change due to the Arab Spring.  Morocco now has a new constitution with the Islamic party of peace and development leading the way.  While Egypt and Libya are both more obvious with their changes, the complete ousting of their leaders and old forms of government.   
               These changes, protests and demonstrations were organized and attend by large numbers of citizens, many of them young men and women. The conversations about these event s have taken place on social networking sites and throughout the internet; an area were the younger generation flourishes. Is this “Arab Spring” really that? Or is this a North African Youth Revolt? In Tunisia this whole event kicked off with a young man who felt constrained by the economic system. These unemployment problems effect the young  stronger than any age demographic. Were these ageing dictators, out of touch with their citizens.   It is obvious that these movements are much more complex than teenage angst, but this idea of the young citizens versus the old leaders does raise some identity questions that should be developed further. The problems the young men and women of north Africa have are similar to the economic issues of the young men and women all around the world (Spain being one of the best examples).  Is the present system filled with young angry men?       

Where They Live, Where I Live: Barriers

For this assignment, which can have a different title than the one suggested, reflect on how the differences between where you grew up or where you live now and where Middle Easterners live might act as barriers to understanding. What resources will help you overcome such barriers? The key factors to consider here are the universal and the particular, environment and culture.

The differences between cultures throughout the world are vast. It is difficult to pinpoint specific differences between any two cultures, and only slightly easier to determine where some of these create barriers. A more preferable topic would be where the common ground is. I always drift to agriculture for this subject, while farming is different all over the world; for some reason there always seems to be something interesting to talk about which can be easily related to. However, this example of mine is specific to where I grew up. In rural Lancaster County it seems almost obvious that agriculture is part of a common knowledge that I could discuss with any individual. Across the world this may not be true; my perception that has been endowed upon me by my hometown could be easily proven false. For example if I found myself conversing with someone from Cairo. My perception could also be reality if I ran into a Moroccan olive farmer instead. The big problem is that where I live is a specific location but where “Middle Easterners live” is an open ended concept. It is almost impossible to determine barriers created by growing up in Lancaster County and the entire Middle East (even if I focus just on North Africa), because where one example might prove a point another might dispel it.

For the sake of argument I will generalize

The most prime example is education. It can be and often is a barrier. Not how much we are exposed to it because there are well educated and uneducated people all over the world but instead what we learn about each other. In my school district I had one course that dealt with the Middle East for a specific unit. My tenth grade “World Cultures” class included a two week unit on the Middle East where I quickly learned and then forgot names of countries and their capitals. The classroom is not where I learned about the Middle East, it was instead from television, movies, the internet and other forms of mass media where I made my first impressions of the Middle East. This could easily create a barrier between someone from south Lancaster and someone from the Middle East. The information that is presented in mass media is almost never properly explained and presented in the in-depth version that is required for proper learning. In many parts of the Middle East the same problem persists. Propaganda and sound bites about America (almost never Lancaster County) are generalized and simplified. However I do believe there is a larger focus on the western world in the Middle Eastern world than vice versa.

The good news is the reassure to fix this problem is a simple one: education. By changing how and what we learn about, not only the Middle East, but all regions of the world we can overcome the barriers that separate us. The United States should strengthen its world cultures education programs: abroad opportunities and international exchanges should be promoted in our high schools, mandatory world cultures classes should be at all levels of secondary education, and large block grants should be given to the states to provide programs featuring international speakers. However, our schools and government can only do so much. In the end it is a societal issue that will need to be solved by individuals. Our mass media will need to change. The way we talk about other cultures in print and television will need to turn from fear and distrust to the more realistic tone that Arabs and other Middle Easterners are similar to those in the United States, and these barriers that exists can be easily torn down.

It is through these methods that I will overcome this barrier. Three years of college level courses, have allowed me to learn not only about the Middle East but from Middle Easterners themselves. My tutors, professors, and even my fellow students have been from the Middle East. Learning from them and with them has torn down the barrier that separated us. This collegiate experience has taught me that most people around the world are very similar; advanced education specifically with a personal touch.

Introduction

                                             Welcome, ترحيب, Ansuf, Accueil, Benvenuto !
While most of my posts will not be multi-lingual I figured this would be a good way to start this project on the International Relations of North Africa and how the basics of  constructivism determine the foreign affairs of the region.

Thank you
-Alex