Definitions Flashcards
Al-Qaeda
a global militant Islamist organization founded in the late 1980s by Osama bin Laden and others, known for carrying out terrorist attacks on Western targets
Alewites
a religious group in Syria and parts of Lebanon and Turkey that branched off from Shia Islam and has its own unique beliefs and practices
Antisemitism
hostility, prejudice, or discrimination against Jews as a group.
Arab Socialism
a political ideology that emerged in the Arab world in the mid-20th century, characterized by a mix of socialist, nationalist, and anti-colonialist principles
Eastern Question
a term used to describe the political and diplomatic problems arising from the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of European powers in the 19th and early 20th centuries
Fatah
a Palestinian political party founded in the 1950s and currently led by Mahmoud Abbas. It is one of the two main Palestinian factions, along with Hamas
Hezbollah
a Lebanon-based Shia Islamist political and military organization, designated a terrorist group by several Western countries, including the United State
Intifada
a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation, characterized by mass protests, civil disobedience, and sometimes violence
Islamic Jihad (Egypt)
a Sunni Islamist group based in Egypt that advocates for the establishment of an Islamic state in the country and is responsible for carrying out numerous attacks against government and civilian targets
Islamic State (ISIS)
a militant Sunni Islamist group that emerged in Iraq and Syria in the early 2010s and sought to establish a caliphate based on its own interpretation of Islam. It is responsible for numerous acts of terrorism and human rights abuses
Mandate system
a system established by the League of Nations after World War I, whereby certain territories previously held by the defeated powers were placed under the administration of various European powers with the goal of preparing them for eventual independence
Maronites
a Christian sect primarily found in Lebanon, with significant populations also in Syria and Cyprus
McMahon-Hussein Correspondence
a series of letters exchanged during World War I between British High Commissioner in Egypt Sir Henry McMahon and Sharif Hussein bin Ali, the leader of the Arab Revolt against Ottoman rule
Oslo Accords
a set of agreements signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in the 1990s, which established a framework for the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Pan-Arab nationalism
a political ideology that emphasizes the unity and solidarity of the Arab world and seeks to promote Arab culture and identity
PLO
the Palestine Liberation Organization, a political organization founded in the 1960s that seeks the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem
Saudi Aramco
the state-owned oil company of Saudi Arabia, one of the largest oil companies in the world
Shias
a branch of Islam that believes in the political and spiritual leadership of Ali and his descendants, and is the majority religion in Iran and Iraq.
“Sick Man of Europe”
a term used to describe the Ottoman Empire in the 19th and early 20th centuries, reflecting its decline in power and influence
Sunnis
the largest branch of Islam, who believe that the first four caliphs were the rightful successors to the Prophet Muhammad, and is the majority religion in most of the Muslim world
Sykes-Picot Agreement
a secret agreement between the governments of the United Kingdom and France, with the assent of Russia, defining their spheres of influence in the Middle East should the Ottoman Empire collapse during World War I
Tanzimat
a series of reforms undertaken by the Ottoman Empire in the mid-19th century, aimed at modernizing the state and promoting equality and freedom for all citizens
The Balfour Declaration
The Balfour Declaration was a public statement made by the British government in 1917 during World War I, expressing support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. It was an important milestone in the history of Zionism and the eventual establishment of the state of Israel
Tripartite Declaration (1950)
was a joint statement issued in 1950 by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, affirming their commitment to the security and stability of the Middle East region. It was issued in response to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and sought to discourage any further aggression by either side
UN Resolution 181
also known as the Partition Plan, was a United Nations General Assembly resolution passed in 1947 that called for the partition of British Mandate Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem as an international city. While the resolution was accepted by Jewish leaders, it was rejected by Arab leaders, and it ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
UN Resolution 242
was a United Nations Security Council resolution passed in 1967 in the aftermath of the Six-Day War, calling for a “just and lasting peace” in the Middle East based on the principles of withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territories and recognition of the right of all states in the region to live in peace and security
White Paper (1930)
was a British government policy statement that sought to limit Jewish immigration to Palestine and restrict the sale of land to Jews in order to ease Arab-Jewish tensions in the region. It was criticized by Jewish leaders and led to increased Jewish resistance to British rule in Palestine
The Young Turks
were a group of Turkish nationalist reformers who emerged in the late 19th century and played a key role in the overthrow of the Ottoman Empire in 1908. They advocated for a modern, secular, and centralized Turkish state and implemented various political and social reforms
Zionism
is a political movement that emerged in the late 19th century advocating for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine, the historical homeland of the Jewish people. It was founded by Theodor Herzl and other Jewish leaders in response to rising anti-Semitism in Europe and the desire to create a safe haven for Jews
