List at least two reasons why countries in the Middle East, in spite of having huge oil wealth, are considered some of the least developed nations of the world. What kinds of conflicts exist in the area? What happened during the Arab Spring?

Question

What U.S. foreign policy questions now exist regarding the Middle East?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

An ideal response will:
1, List at least two of the ways in which the nations are less developed, such as stagnant economies, mass unemployment, corrupt governments, lack of democracy and freedom, absence of women's rights, and lack of education.
2, Describe the conflict between the Shiite and Sunni Muslims that is tied to Shiite Iran's growing power and regional ambitions.
3, Note that Iran's growing power is causing discomfort among the Sunni governments of other countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and the Persian Gulf states.
4, Mention other longstanding conflicts such as the one between Turkey and the Kurds, which has caused conflicts in Iraq, and the one between Israel and Palestine, in which radical Muslims are committed to the destruction of Israel.
5, Discuss how the Arab Spring was a popular and largely peaceful uprising that replaced governments in some countries with elected governments and that forced rulers in other countries to pay more attention to popular sentiment.
6, Outline some of the U.S. foreign policy questions that now exist, including (1) what the U.S. government should do if the new democratic regimes do not lead to economic growth and better standards of living for people; (2) how the United States will deal with countries that elect extremists into government, as two countries already have; and (3) how the U.S. government should deal with Iran's nuclear ambitions and desire to become the leading regional power.