Framing the Region: Imperialism and Middle East. Essay Example.

Emphasis on relations socioeconomic, religious and political between the Middle East and the outside world is one of the enduring features of research. However, the most fundamental aspect that captures Adam Haniehs interest in this chapter is the role of western imperialist powers in the region. The Middle East is known for its strategic gateway between Europe and Asia. In fact, the relationship between Europe, Middle East and North Africa stretches back and reflects the long tradition of colonialism, acculturation and trade. However, when World War II ended, the region had become dominated by European powers both militarily and politically. Thus, Hanieh is attempting to deconstruct the period in which the long-symbiotic relationship between the two regions transform into colonization and imperialism.

The influence of Western imperialism in the general development of the Middle Eastern region is a matter of continuing debate. It is agreeable that westernization process institutionalized modernization in the Middle East region. Although the changes were introduced forcefully, they had numerous positive influence across the region. However, the region currently experiences constant conflict, civil wars, and economic crises. Unlike the ancient days when Mesopotamia was quite glorious and was at the helm of the world history, the situation at the moment is unpredictable, volatile and unstable both economically and politically (Davis & Burke, 2011). The dynamics and history that introduced the current situation is complicated and cannot be attributed to a single factor. Nevertheless, Hanieh forcibly argues that the events leading to the current situation in Middle East region have nothing to do with imperialism or in the least, not a major cause of the economic decline experienced within the region. The modernization and democratization process introduced by the western imperialists did not fail entirely as there exist various examples of tremendous success stories such as Turkey.

However, the failure lies hugely in the refusal of other Arab states to accept full integration and in part on the western powers inability to balance the local competing interests within the region. As a result, these failures led to unprecedented military clashes, civil wars and religious rebellions, which led to feelings of anti-westernization. Looking forward, it is quite clear that despite the shortcomings of imperialism which to some extent contributed to political instability and economic crises in the region, the general bleeding concept had a profound influence in the Middle East region. In the same spirit, Hanieh argues that the westernization idea introduced democratic ideals, initiated modern economy and improved women status.

Industrialization and Economic Reforms

The western imperialism paved the way for industrialization in Middle East region despite the availability of huge mineral deposits. In turn, this robustly boosted the economic prosperity of the region. Industrialization phenomena introduced other visible forms of western influence such as the development of modern roads alongside other social amenities. The introduction modern technology to assist in the exploration and exploitation resulted in immense economic prosperity across the region. These developments opened up the Middle East region to what it is today. For instance, at the current period, the countries within this region have been able to gain significant weight in terms of commercial alliance with the United States and other western countries. These countries export huge, volume of petroleum and some manufacturing products including military equipment. Nonetheless, the United States and its western allies have always dwarfed these trends through trade dynamism. For instance, besides the narrow set of product exported to the western nations by the Middle Eastern countries, there are no significant trade ties these countries have in the United States. For instance, the text shows that the United States established substitute industries for naturally occurring products after World War II, which besides increasing the scope and scale of materials exports of the United States assisted in reducing the US-overreliance on Middle Eastern countries for the naturally occurring materials.

Critical analysis of Haniehs text shows that oil remains a major objective of the United States in the Middle East. However, he fails to explain role undertaken by the United States in the region particularly for unequivocally supporting Israel and managing the ensuing tensions it experience within the region which apparently are not related to US interest to control oil business.

Arab Nationalism and Imperialism

Arab nationalism is a movement characterized by deep emotional appeal with the aim of the renaissance of Arabians to restore their sovereignty, power, prestige and unity. Arab nationalism has been encouraged and stimulated since WWII as a movement for self-determination and against colonialism. The conservative, older and new supporters of nationalism have a concurrent goal to eliminate imperialism and the existence of Israel on the Middle Eastern soil. However, conservative nationalists have often cooperated with the western powers, ignoring their association with the state of Israel in part due to commercial ties and the rulers need for the western support to remain in power. Thus, Haniel provides an accurate account when it comes to the interest and aims of Arab nationalist movements in relation to imperialist states and Muslim leaders thought to be favouring or supporting the western powers to meddle in the Middle Eastern affairs. The nationalists are loyal to the entire Arab nation instead of the artificially created nations. However, Haniehs account does not record the spectacular failure of the nationalist movements by the conservative leaders as well as the geographic, economic and cultural variations across the Middle East. These groups have also been clashing amongst themselves thus making it hard to pursue the nationalist agenda.

As a result of the division, the conservative government has been able to subdue and bring these rebel factions to imperialism through military, political and economic means (Haniel 27). However, it is worth noting the immense destruction that imperial war has unleashed on the Arab world. For instance, the violence turned Syria into a charnel house while it completely demolished Libya. ISIS car bombs shudder Iraq following the several decades of sanctions and civil wars. Yemen is the poorest nation in the region. The United States used it as a shooting gallery before it was attacked by the Saudi Arabia. These actions led to widely entrenched feminine in Yemen. Similarly, Palestine is still blleding and resisting the imposition of Israeli setter-colonialism. These are imperial violence meted against Middle Eastern countries who do not want to embrace the ideologies of the imperial west (Davis & Burke, 2011). Why would western nations unleash such terror, violence and destruction on sovereign states? Have they really succeeded in quelling the uprisings? Has imperialism succeeded in the Middle East? In view of the violence and destruction, it is quite clear that the Middle East is not ready for western imperialism. In fact, even conservative leaders only seek the assistance of the imperialists to extend their stay in power. Therefore, although imperialism flourished in the Middle East at some point in time, Hanieh fails to confess that it currently does more destruction to the region. Therefore, considering that states are sovereign and have the right to self-determination, it is important for the United States and other western nations desist from meddling in the affairs of the Middle Eastern countries.

Reference

Davis, D. K., & Burke, E. (2011). Environmental Imaginaries of the Middle East and North Africa. Ohio University Press.Hanieh, A. (2013). Lineages of revolt: issues of contemporary capitalism in the Middle East. Haymarket books.