Chapter Six: Human Security in the New Middle East? James L. Gelvin wrote in Chapter 6: “The breadth and depth of the protests and uprisings that have engulfed the Arab world, Iran, Turkey and Israel indicate that agitation for good governance is not a transient or localized phenomenon in the Middle East. As such, the history of the past thirty years cannot BUT disturb the sleep of politicians, kings, and dictators throughout the region.”

Extra credit and related to Chapter 10 – The Arab Spring and the New Era of Uncertainty In 2019 – two more countries joined the list of countries where protest-driven downfall and removal of authoritarian leaders – which two countries? Please pick the correct ones. Thank you. 

Baathism: indigenous to the Arab world; founded by two Iraqis, Michel Aflaq & Salah al-Din Al-Bitar, 1953; social reform and economic justice through Arab socialism & Pan-Arab unity; anti-imperialist and anti-Zionist; and a toleration of religious minorities

Chapter 10 – The Arab Spring and the New Era of Uncertainty General El-Sisi led the charge against the elected and ruling coalition of Hizballah and Hamas in 2013. 

For fun & extra credit: Please match the correct country with its cuisine/fav traditional dish – thank you!

Please pick all the correct answers: What are the most significant developments in the Middle East over the past decade according to Schwedler’s last chapter: Future Trends and Prospects

Please match the correct term with its meaning/explanation – thank you!

On August 4, 2020, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions occurred in Beirut port and damaged over half the city. The explosion resulted from detonation of tons of ammonium nitrate. The Beirut port explosion killed 218 people, and wounded 7000 people, while causing a damage of 77,000 apartments and displacing over 300,000 people.

MENA Literature – please match author(s) with their home country – thank you! 🙂

In what year did Israel come to occupy the West Bank and the Gaza Strip?