Theme 4: Ethnic Minorities

• Why hadn't the West been interested in SA before the discovery of oil in 1938?

  Hostile geography Didn't want to alienate muslims by encroaching on Mecca and Medina
• Why was Sharif Hussein Rejected in 1924?


  Local tribesmen questioned his legitimacy following his cooperation with outsidersForced into exile in 1924 after claiming title of CaliphExiled by Ikhwan army led by ibn Saud
• What were the key aims of Abd el Wahhab?

  Called for a return to Islam at the time of MAngered by relaxed practise of IslamBlamed Ottomans for fall in standards
• What was the alliance between Abdul Aziz ibn Saud and Ikhwan useful for?

  Allegiance of one who could conquer territory and one who could spread message of puritan IslamAlso provided religious and moral legitimacy
• What was the impact of the death of el Wahhab?

  Sauds took over role as religious leader and militia leader
• How was ibn Saud successful?

  Defeated rival tribes and united kingdoms of Nejd and Hejaz to create Saudi Arabia in 1932
• When did ibn Saud establish the Ikhwan army?

  1902
• Why was Saud successful?

  Won respect of rivals through military superiorityHead of Wahhabis, offered salvation to conquered regions through pure religious doctrineSuccess was through return to righteous practise of Islam
• How did ibn Saud maintain authority?

  Forced nomads to settle, broke up tribal organisations that challenged Gave assistance in forming agricultural communitiesProtected Holy Sites and spread WahhabismState and Islam completely integrated
• How did Saud maintain control over the Ikhwan?

  Wanted to export religious purity and invade IraqSaud challenged them at the BoSibilla 1929 and won1930 Ikhwan was disbanded and White Army formed
• How has Islam continued to play a key role in SA?

  Sauds seen as protectors of IslamUlama paid and maintained influence over major public issuesU control morality police
• When was the radical Wahhabi seizure of the Grand Mosque in Mecca?

  19792 weeksDecried corruption of Sauds and Ulama
• What was the state of the Sunni-Shia divide under the Ottomans 1908-1918?

  Overwhelming unity in face of Western interferenceShia often excluded from govtMost Arabs didn't break from Ottoman army during Arab Revolt 1916, not a sectarian conflict
• Throughout the mandates and up to 1967, what was the state of the Sunni-Shia divide?

  Identity based on Arab nationalismIdeas more dominant than religionUnited in opposition to WestSunnis usually favoured by WestWahhabis and MB present but less prolific
• During the Arab Cold War, what was happening with the Sunni-Shia Split?

  Seeds of sectarian divide plantedSA and Wahhabism funded by them spread anti-ShiaIraq saw marginalisation of ShiaSyria came under control of Alawite minority (Shia) 1970
• What happened in 1979 that saw the greatest sectarian divide in the ME to that point in 20C?

  Iranian Islamic Republic established based on Sharia lawAimed to export revolutionary Islam from Shia point
• What was the impact of the Iranian revolution?

  Suspicion from other nationsHostility from Iraq's SH who brought nations into I-I war 1980-88Iran seen as destabiliser of Shiites in each Arab state
• How did SH exacerbate the Sunni-Shia split past the I-I war?

  Following the 1991 1st Gulf War, Shiites rose up60k-100k murdered by SHNo-fly zones had to be established by USA
• What was the most blatant expression of sectarian conflict in the 21C?


  Civil War in Iraq 2006Sunnis minority removed from power and persecuted by Shia majority backed by USCreation of Al-Qaeda in Iraq and later IsisIsis dominated North until late 2017, killed most Shiites they came across
• What are the Christian minorities in the ME?

  Copts

  Maronites

  Armenians
• Where are the Copts largest in number?

  Egypt
• Under the Free Officers, how well did the Copts do in politics?

  No key positionsContinue to have under representation
• Which leaders have the copts supported or fallen out with?

  Fell out with SadatSupported Mubarak to prevent Islamic extremism, Pope of Copts endorsed him
• Why did attacks on Christians intensify after 2013?

  Christians blamed for the removal of Morsi in 2013
• What proportion of the population do Copts make up and how well are they represented?

  10-20%6% representation in Par
• How does the Constitution persecute Christians?

  Prohibits conversion from Islam to any religion
• Who did the French favour under their mandate of Lebanon?

  Christians, gave them key governmental positions
• What determines the Lebanese political system?

  1932 censusPM SunniPres MaroniteSpeaker Shia
• What impact did conflict with Israel have on Lebanon?

  Increased muslim population with refugees and PLO moving from Jordan tooLed to outbreak of the Lebanese CW between Christians and Muslims, Israel got involved fighting PLO
• Why has Christian influence dwindled in Lebanon?


  Low fertility rates mean they don't compete in terms of numbers1.6m/4.6m Population
• When was the Armenian Genocide?

  1915-1923
• How many Armenians were killed?

  1.5 million
• How had Armenians been discriminated against for years in the Ottoman empire?

  Higher taxFew political or legal rightsUnjust and unequal treatment before the law
• Why were the Armenians resented in Turkey?

  Better educatedWealthierThought to have supported Christian govts, like Russia
• Who were the Young Turks and what was their aim?

  Revolutionary group that came into power in 1908Aimed to Turkify the empire with Constitutional reformArmenians were seen as a threat to Turkification
• Who did the Young Turks support in WW1?

  Triple AllianceProclaiming Jihad on Christian enemies
• What were the actions of the Armenians during WW1?

  Some volunteered to help the Russians in the Caucasus regionSeen as traitors
• What was the reaction of Armenian aid to the Russians?

  Wanted removal of Armenians from War zones on Eastern Front
• What happened on 24th April 1915?

  100s Armenian intellectuals arrested and executedThis removed potential leaders of resistance to genocide
• What followed the arrests in April 1915?

  Forced death marches to Mesopotamian Desert where they were killed