Final

Question 1

Muslim Brotherhood

Answer 1

Islamic social and political organization that originated in Egypt in 1928 as a popular reaction against the foreign-inspired parliamentary regime. Spoke particularly to parts of the population who were left unmoved or alienated from the mainstream nationalist movement. Not meant to be a nationalist movement on its own, but ideas of anti-Western intrusion inevitably led to a nationalistic rhetoric. Grew dramatically in 1930s and by 1940 had more than 500 branches throughout Egypt and tens of thousands of members. There is no all-encompassing MB group, but many MB across the Arab world.

Question 2

Iranian Revolution

Answer 2

Uprisings in response to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s alienation of many demographics (rural landowners, urban shop owners, and ulama) by placing more power in hands of government to further develop the country. Led to prominence of Khomeini, who led resistance against shah based on Islamic principles.

Question 3

Ayatollah Khomeini

Answer 3

The first supreme leader of Iran. Was a prominent leader in the resistance to Shah’s radical policies and focused on pious government. Created a blueprint for the future of Iran with the adoption of a new constitution, and gave more power to the ulama with the trending away from secularization.

Question 4

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Answer 4

Prime Minister of Turkey from 2003-2014 and President of Turkey since 2014. Founded the Justice and Development party. He originates from an Islamist political background and considers himself a conservative democrat, leading to socially conservative and economically liberal policies. Originally initiated some of the most substantial democratic reforms in Turkish history, but quickly turned authoritarian after consolidating power.

Question 5

Justice and Development Party

Answer 5

Turkish party that was founded in 2001 by moderates from the previous Islamic party in Turkey. At the beginning of rise to power, the party initiated the most substantial democratic reforms in the history of the republic. Quickly changed after consolidating power and became increasingly more authoritarian (restricted sale of alcohol, increased religious education in public schools, and limited freedom of press and expression on social media). Initially advocated for a liberal market economy and Turkey’s entrance into the EU.

Question 6

Fethullah Gulen Community

Answer 6

Group with informal membership that is a strong advocate of commerce and wealth production, Turkish Islam, and toleration. Organized within civil society and educational institutions– hundreds of schools and universities around the world. Also heavily organized in Turkey’s bureaucracy, police force, and military.

Question 7

Hamas

Answer 7

A branch of the Muslim Brotherhood that emerged from the Palestinian uprising in Gaza and West Bank. They directly challenged the moral and political decisions of secular nationalist Palestinian movement, such as the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. Gained popularity due to their contributions to the community, such as social/communal services and welfare.

Question 8

Hezbollah

Answer 8

Translated as the “party of God,”– a Shi’ite political and parliamentary organization in Lebanon founded during 1982 war. Aimed to establish an Islamic regime in Lebanon and to fight the Israeli occupation. Received a large bump in popularity after the 2006 conflict with Israel.

Question 9

Oslo Accords

Answer 9

Palestinians would get self rule for the first time in their history but it is highly constrained. Divided into three zones that have one completely under PA civil and security control, one with Israeli military control and PA civil control and a third with Israeli civil and security control. Israel still had the right to patrol borders and control airspace. Israeli military, jewish settlers, and Israeli citizens still had the right to enter all territories. These accords failed.

Question 10

Settlements

Answer 10

The jews who moved and lived on disputed territory between Israel and Palestine. The sight of a lot of the violence that occurs between the two. Makes peace hard.

Question 11

Alawite/Alawis

Answer 11

Branch of Islam that is centered in Syria. Despite being a minority group, the Alawites dominate Syrian government and key military positions. Took power after the Hafez al Assad led a coup against the Ba’ath party.

Question 12

Likud Party

Answer 12

Major right-wing secular political party in Israel. Had a landslide victory in the 1977 elections which was a major turning point in the country’s political history as it was the first time the left had lost power.

Question 13

Fatah

Answer 13

A Palestinian nationalist political party and the largest faction of the multi-party PLO. Played a significant role in the revolutionary struggle through its maintenance of multiple military groups. After the death of Arafat, Fatah lost its majority in Palestinian parliament to Hamas.

Question 14

Yaser Arafat

Answer 14

Founder of Fatah, the Palestinian guerilla group, who came up in the golden age of secular Arab nationalism. Eventually elected chairman of the PLO ***

Question 15

PLO

Answer 15

Nationalist Palestinian group with the goal of liberating Palestine from Israeli occupation. Often recognized as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Formally acknowledged Israel’s existence which led to condemnation from splinter groups such as Hamas.

Question 16

1967 War

Answer 16

Relations had never fully normalized between Israel and its neighbors and after egyptian forces mobilized along Israeli border in Sinai, Israel attacked. This led to one million new Palestinians under Israeli military rule, and reunited Palestinians under Israeli occupation. New borders and sense of Israeli security resulted from this victory. Palestinians going under Israeli rule without citizenship. Lack of representation and equal treatment created the rise of Palestinian nationalism. Israel gained more land as a result of the war and refused to withdraw from the territory until peace agreements were reached.

Question 17

Spoiler

Answer 17

Hamas and settlers: people who don’t want peace and take actions that prevent the majority from reaching said peace.

Question 18

Golan Heights

Answer 18

Military buffer zone, helped win the 1967 war since they could fend off multiple armies in that concentrated space.

Question 19

West Bank

Answer 19

Land consistently disputed by Palestine and Israel, site of much of the Intifada violence. Battled over in wars and in peace treaties.

Question 20

Zionism

Answer 20

The belief that Jews constitute a nation and they should establish a state in Palestine. Originating from centuries of Jewish persecution culminating in an age of nationalism and European colonialism. Led to the establishment of Israel by the UN in 1948. Zionism was originally meant to be a more secular movement and the rise of religious nationalism is more recent. The establishment of Israel led to an ongoing war with Palestine.

Question 21

Political Islam

Answer 21

A range of political movements, ideological trends, and state-directed policies concerned with giving Islam an authoritative status in political life. A modern ideology that arose in the 1970s that is extremely heterogeneous with different demands, as there is no consensus on what Islamic state should look like. The rise of political Islam is largely attributed to the failure of secular ideologies and increasing state control over religion.

Question 22

Salafism

Answer 22

School of Sunni Islam that condemns theological innovation and advocates strict adherence to sharia law and social structures of early Islam. A broader intellectual category that includes Wahhabism.

Question 23

Wahhabism

Answer 23

Ultraconservative religious revivalist movement in Arabian peninsula. Preaches a return to traditional Islam. This is the official ideology of Saudi Arabia as it is endorsed by the state.

Question 24

Intifada

Answer 24

Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation that began in 1987. The movement utilized a mixed strategy of civil disobedience and resistance, including refusal to pay taxes and throwing stones/molotov cocktails at the IDF. Came to a conclusion with the signing of the Oslo Accords.

Question 25

Copts

Answer 25

Largest Christian denomination in Egypt. Copts have long faced discrimination, but today(after the arab spring), with the tide of political Islam on the rise, they fear that religious bias and violence against them may increase.

Question 26

Shiite revival

Answer 26

After the fall of Saddam, many Iraqis viewed the time as an opportunity to redress injustices in the distribution of power among major communities within the country. By liberating and empowering Iraq’s Shiite majority, the Bush administration helped launch a broad Shiite revival that would upset the sectarian balance in Iraq and the Middle East for years to come.

Question 27

Rentier state

Answer 27

States that depend on income from sources apart from taxation. These rents are paid by foreign actors, go directly to the state, and create relatively few jobs. Causes robust authoritarianism because of low taxes on citizens (leads to less demand for accountability from gov’t), increased state wealth (allows gov’t to spend more on internal security and repression), and increased spending (dampens pressures for democratization).

Question 28

Kurds

Answer 28

A largely heterogeneous group who are aiming to form a state of their own. Great American ally due to powerful army fighting against ISIS. Population is dispersed in four countries in ME, which makes secession difficult due to a fragmented nationalist movement and economic constraints on Kurdish oil.

Question 29

Knesset

Answer 29

The unicameral legislative body in Israel. Operates on a multiparty system where if parties reach a certain threshold of votes, they get seats in the parliament. This leads to many coalition governments as it is unlikely that a single party will get a majority. Knesset also elects both the president and prime minister.

Question 30

Gezi protests

Answer 30

Turkish protests that began with the preservation of Gezi park, but snowballed into protests concerning a series of other issues like freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and an end to police brutality. Initial protesters were young university students, environmentalists, and women, but expanded to many demographics as the protests continued.

Question 31

Berbers

Answer 31

Indigenous group known as Amazigh who are dispersed throughout many North African countries. Been active since the 1980s, and significant due to being largely an ethnic movement, not nationalist. Very active transnationally, as Berbers exist in Europe.

Question 32

De-Baathification

Answer 32

Iraq de-Baathification led to widespread joblessness as well as creating social and political cleavages that built the tension and distrust necessary for insurgency.

Question 33

Patrimonial Military

Answer 33

When the military elite is personally invested in the regime’s survival. When the interests of the military elite are intrinsically linked to the longevity of the regime. Typically linked to lower levels of institutionalization.