3.4 - ME + Shia vs Sunni (Iraq)

Question 1

What is the Sykes-Picot Agreement?

Answer 1

• Treaty between France and UK, with Russia also agreeing to terms outlines
• determined how Ottoman Empire would be split up when it collapsed
• borders defined in the agreement shaped how ME borders are now

Question 2

Why is the Sykes-Picot Treaty problematic?

Answer 2

• created borders that ignored ethnic and religious divisions
• resulted in multi ethnic countries being formed, often with a very large majority and a minority
  
  • leading to persecution

Question 3

What are the reasons for instability in the Middle East?

Answer 3

• Religon
• Resources
• Governance
• Youth

Question 4

How has religion contributed to instability in the Middle East?

Answer 4

• Shia and Sunni divide is a large issue
  
  • many countries have a mixed Sunni Shia population eg. Syria, Iraq. Jordan, Iran
• In Iraq, Sunni dominance under Saddam Hussein ended abruptly, were not treated well initially under new administration
  
  • resulted in Sunnis joining militant groups with Syrian Sunnis or ISIL

Question 5

How have resources created instability in the Middle East?

Answer 5

• 65% of global oil production is from the Middle East and thus is extremely important
• Saudi Arabia has control over most, thus is more easily backed by Western powers
  
  • leaving Iran feeling endangered
• Kuwait was invaded by Iraq for its oil reserves
  
  • led to Gulf Wars
  • laid groundworks for close Saudi - US relationship

Question 6

How has governance contributed to instability in the Middle East?

Answer 6

• new countries were formed postcolonialism
  
  • along ill informed borders
• religious and ethnic identity were considered more important by governments than a central national identity
  
  • thus resulted in marginalisation and agitation of groups
  • increased risk of terrorism
• Somewhat returned to original groupings
  
  • Kurds are in NW Iraq
  • but now want own country, something Iraq will not allow

Question 7

How have youth contributed to instability in the Middle East?

Answer 7

• youth have access to good education, thus are aware of their rights and are aware of opportunities elsewhere
  
  • are not afraid to call out governments
• use of technology among youth is high (Arab Spring is called Facebook Revolution due to this)
• unemployment has made this worse with protests becoming common during periods of inflation
• this combined with drought triggered Arab Spring
  
  • affects are still seen today in Syria

Question 8

What is the proportion of Sunni to Shia in the Muslim world?

Answer 8

• 87% Sunni
• 13% Shia

Question 9

What is the proportion of Sunnis and Shias in Iraq?

Answer 9

• 65% Shia
• 35% Sunni

Question 10

What groups operate in Iraq?

Answer 10

• Al Qaeda Iraq, as a Sunni resistance to American intervention in 2003
  
  • created IS after AQI broke up
• ISIS (IS of Iraq and Syria) aka Daesh declared a caliphate
  
  • evolved into ISIL (IS of Iraq and Levant), showing expansionist intentions
• all designated as NINS (non-Islamic non-state players) by UN
  
  • beliefs are very distorted and extremist

Question 11

What was the name of Saddam Hussein’s party?

Answer 11

• Ba’ath Party
  
  • Sunni, minority ruled majority
• is present in Iran, Syria and Lebanon in present day

Question 12

What happened after the fall of Saddam Hussein?

Answer 12

• Al Qaeda took advantage of power vacuum
• however were crushed by US forces
  
  • Sunni military officers were not allowed to participate in new government headed by Nuri Al-Maliki
  • resulted in Sunnis being marginalised politically

Question 13

How did ISIL benefit from US support in Iraq?

Answer 13

• removal of Al Qaeda by US eliminated their major non state enemy
• when ISIL captured Mosul it gained access to US supplied weapons and vehicles
  
  • allowed them to fight more effectively with on par if not superior weaponry when compared to Iraqi forces