Democracy and the Middle East. Throughout history, those two meanings were not compatible at all. Authoritarianism, on the other hand, is something that is associated with the Middle East. Since their independence, only two countries have experienced democracy for a more extended period, Israel and Turkey. (only Lebanon had a short period of democratic stability) The democracy index shows that the Middle East is the most authoritarian region with 3.5 points. (www.eiu.com) The euphoria during the Arab Spring was as big as the disappointment and the disillusion afterward. Except for Tunisia, the situation in the Middle East did not change but got even worse. Yet, the question about the middle eastern susceptibility towards authoritarianism remains. Many variables, such as pre-colonial state structures, patriarchy, ethnicities, level of poverty, or the colonial legacy, could answer this question. The following research paper will focus mainly on the variable of foreign influence in the middle east. The Paper's thesis statement is: Authoritarian systems in the Middle East are most likely to persist with a nation's foreign power. This variable gained, especially during the Arab Spring, new attention. The western countries (USA, EU) and Russia interfered, with sanctions, military, monetary or political support for or against the regime, into the Middle Eastern nations' internal struggle.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Research Method and Definitions
3 Iraq
4 Syria
5 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
The research paper aims to investigate the correlation between foreign influence and the persistence of authoritarianism in the Middle East, specifically analyzing how external interference affects the political trajectories of target nations. The core research question examines whether foreign power intervention, whether through support or opposition to a regime, ultimately reinforces authoritarian stability rather than fostering democratic transitions.
- The impact of international military, economic, and political interventions on Middle Eastern political systems.
- Case study analysis of Iraq and the historical role of external powers in its regime stability.
- Examination of the Syrian Civil War and the influence of global and regional actors on the conflict's outcome.
- The role of foreign influence in preventing democratic consolidation and maintaining autocratic rule.
- Empirical perspectives on foreign intervention, incorporating public opinion data from the Arab Barometer.
Excerpt from the Book
3 Iraq
Between 1979 and 2003, Iraq was ruled by the Baath party and by its leader Saddam Hussein. Even after the defeat of Saddam Hussein in 2003 and the transition of the political system to a de jure democracy, the country was de facto still an authoritarian system. In the democracy index, Iraq gets 4.06 points, and it is 0.06 points away from being classified as a rigid system (www.eui.com).
Saddam Hussein was already supported by British and American intelligence in early 1959. In 1963 the US and British also helped the Baath party to seize power. During the Saddam regime, the western forces supported the Iraqi government substantially during the Iran-Iraq war. In 1980 Iraq launched a full-scale invasion of Iran to reclaim the Shatt-al Arab river. Until 1981 it looked like the Iraqi army would overwhelm the forces of Iran. But at the end of 1981, the offensive stalled. In 1982 the Iranian forces managed to throw Iraqi troops out of the country and invade Iraq. If Saddam Hussein agreed to a cease-fire at that point, his political career would have been over. Realizing that Iraq was about to lose, the USA, UK, France, and the Arab Gulf nations increased their support for Saddam Hussein. Weapons, such as tanks, missiles, and combat weapons were delivered. A total of 130 billion dollars in loans were given to Iraq's government to finance the war. US warships were protecting Iraqi oil tankers. The US military also helped the Iraqi army with logistics and military intelligence on Iran. Without the help of the external forces, Iraq would have lost the war, and Saddam Hussein would not have been able to keep his position.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the prevalence of authoritarianism in the Middle East and outlines the thesis that foreign power intervention significantly contributes to the persistence of such regimes.
2 Research Method and Definitions: This section defines the variable of "foreign influence" and details the methodology, including the use of military, economic, and political instruments as indicators for the analysis.
3 Iraq: This chapter analyzes how historical and contemporary foreign interventions, from the support of the Baath party to post-war influence, have hindered Iraq's transition to a stable democracy.
4 Syria: This chapter examines the impact of international actors during the Syrian Civil War, arguing that foreign interference has prolonged the conflict and consolidated the current regime's control.
5 Conclusion: The final chapter synthesizes findings from both case studies to confirm that foreign influence generally acts as a pillar for authoritarian persistence in the region.
Keywords
Middle East, Authoritarianism, Foreign Influence, Iraq, Syria, Saddam Hussein, Assad, Democracy Index, Arab Spring, Civil War, International Relations, Political Stability, Regime Change, Sanctions, Military Intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the relationship between external foreign influence and the stability of authoritarian systems within the Middle East.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
Key themes include the impact of international interventions (USA, Russia, EU, etc.), the historical context of political shifts in Iraq and Syria, and the role of external support in regime endurance.
What is the central research question?
The research asks whether authoritarian systems in the Middle East are more likely to persist when they are subject to a nation's foreign power influence.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a qualitative case study approach, analyzing historical data, political indices, and statistical public opinion data to evaluate the impact of foreign influence.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body focuses on theoretical definitions, followed by detailed analyses of how foreign actors have influenced the political landscapes of Iraq and Syria across different time periods.
What are the most relevant keywords?
The work is best characterized by terms like authoritarianism, foreign influence, Middle East geopolitics, international intervention, and democratic transition.
How did external powers influence the Iran-Iraq war?
The paper highlights that Western powers provided weapons, loans, and military intelligence to Saddam Hussein’s regime to prevent an Iraqi defeat, thereby preserving his power.
What is the impact of foreign intervention on the Syrian Civil War according to the author?
The author argues that foreign support for both sides of the conflict has exacerbated the civil war, devastated the economy, and made the emergence of a democratic system effectively impossible.
What do Syrian refugees think about foreign influence?
Data from the Arab Barometer, cited in the text, indicates that a majority of Syrian refugees believe that foreign powers should not interfere in Syrian affairs.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Hüseyin Ugur Sagkal (Autor:in), 2020, Foreign influence and authoritarianism in the Middle East, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/956849
