Question

what is the postive aspects of nationalism in the middle east

Answer 1

From 1948 - 2007 nationalism has been a major cause of conflict in the Middle East. The right of national self determination and self interest are branches of nationalism that have motivated numerous nations to partake in many of the disputes seen in the Middle East. Nationalism is not the lone cause of conflict and other causes such as religion and resources must be taken into account; however, the true motives of these nations lie in their sense of nationalism.
The right to national self determination acts as a stimulant spurring nations into conflict. One significant conflict caused by nationalism is the Israeli/Palestinian dispute. In this specific conflict both nations fight for the right of national self determination. Their hunger for independence coupled with their hatred for one another can be seen in wars such as the Six Day War and the Yom Kippur War. These feuds act as microcosms to the whole conflict and are caused by the two nations' goal of being nationally self determined.

Self interest is another motivation that can inspire nations into conflict. Specifically, the Gulf War of 1991 illustrates a strong sense of Iraqi and American nationalism, and among their motives self interest rises to the top. Saddam invaded Kuwait on the basis that Iraq "had the sovereign right to this area," yet his true reasons were clearly to gain access to the Persian Gulf, and to tap into the rich oil supply in Kuwait. Once this Iraqi invasion was announced the US immediately became involved stating their intentions were to "prevent another Munich." Yet the trade sanctions they placed on Iraq along with a large amount of their oil coming from this area leads one to believe the U.S. were simply protecting their oil supply. Overall this particular conflict displays the true motive of Iraq and the U.S: self interest.

Nationalism has played an influential role in leading nations into Middle Eastern conflicts; however, it must not be looked at as the lone motivator to these nations. Other causes of conflict include religion and resources, both playing an important role in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The territory covering Israel, Gaza, and West Bank has a huge religious importance to the Judaic and Islamic religions and as a result there is tension around who controls this territory. Many disputes have taken place including The War of Independence, The Six Day War, and the Yom Kippur War with religion driving these nations on a continuous course of conflict. Resources also play an important role in instigating conflict in the Middle East, one example being fresh water. The West Bank is home to a vast supply of drinking water, and as result there has been conflict surrounding this area due to the desperation of nations in need.

As a whole, nationalism must be viewed as the main cause of conflict in the Middle East. The right of national self determination and self interest fuel these nations into numerous feuds and disputes. Religion and resources also play an important role in influencing competition and clashes, yet in the in end nationalism overshadows these elements by acting as the main motivator of many countries to enter war.