OPINION Vol.1, No.1 June 2013 - National Defence University

the region of Northwest Africa, west of Egypt and includes countries such as Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia,
Libya and Mauritania.
Natural Resources
The region has immense strategic significance due to abundance of natural resources. More than
50 % oil and 40% gas reserves of the world are concentrated in Middle East and North Africa. 19 Middle
East accounts for ten times more of oil reserves than North Africa. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait
and Libya lead in terms of oil whereas, Iran and Qatar have abundance of natural gas. Middle East and
North Africa account for 35 per cent of world production. Only five countries i.e. Saudi Arabia, Iran,
UAE, Iraq and Kuwait each produce more than two million barrels per day.
Demography
Total population of Middle East and North Africa is 381 million, which makes about 6% of the
world population. Approximately half of this population comprises less than 25 years youth. Overall
unemployment rate in the region is about 10 per cent. However, youth unemployment rate is about 26.5
per cent which is the highest of all the regions 20 in the world. Literacy Rate 21 of Arab countries indicates
that most of the population is educated and aware of political realities; a contributory factor towards Arab
uprisings.
Main Causes of Arab Uprising
Ideological and Geo-Political Causes
Creation of Israel. Entire geopolitical paradigm of the Middle East revolves around history of
creation of Israel. Since her creation, Israel enjoyed unstinted support of the US and West for all her
actions, both illegal and legal. Since 1948, there have been 12 wars or conflicts between Israel and Arab
countries in which mostly the Arabs have been at a loss. Besides, the sufferings of Palestinian people in
the hands of Israel with the support of US or the West and helplessness of their leaders have never been
approved by the Arabs. Even today, Israeli atrocities continue against unarmed Palestinians before silent
international community, resulting in discontentment amongst Arab people.
Arab Nationalism. Arab Nationalism is in the genes of Arab nation. To prevent revival of Arab
nationalism, the colonial powers created states in Middle East and North Africa by drawing lines on the
region’s map and appointed leaders of their choice in these countries to serve their interests. Such
political arrangements were against the Arab nationalism resulting in frustration amongst the Arabs; a
major cause of uprisings.
Western Support to Authoritarian Regimes. Relationship with Arab authoritarian regimes
has been perceived as the compulsion by the West against fundamental Islam and to contain aggression
against Israel. Western support to autocratic leaders started with the foundation of Muslim Brotherhood
in Egypt in 1928, an ideological Islamist organization with an agenda of establishing an Islamic state 22 .
1979 Iranian revolution and increasing influence of Islamists in Algeria also compelled the West to
strengthen alliances with Arab regimes despite strong contradiction to democracy. People in the Arab
world disapproved such alliances which became one of the main reasons leading to Arab uprisings.
National Pride
Arab people disapproved the nature of relationship between their leaders and their counter parts
in US and the West. In particular, Israeli atrocities against Palestinian people with the tacit connivance
of US and the West and complicity of their leaders disappointed the Arab people. In fact, Hezbollah’s
Hassan Nasrullah has an elevated standing in the Arab world. Asserting policies of Turkey are also
viewed with admiration across the region. The Arab people, therefore, protested to regain the lost pride
and dignity of their states in the comity of nations.
Geo-Economic Causes
Discovery of oil in the Middle East in early 1950s added economic dimension to the relations of
the West with Arab leaders. Continuous supply of the cheap oil for sustainable economic development
has been the core national interest of Europe and the US in the Middle East. If the interests were best
served by the kings, Western support was guaranteed to them, despite strong contradiction to democracy.
Economic conditions and per capita GDP 23 of oil- producing countries are much better. Accordingly, the
uprisings and their effects were quite different in oil producing and non-oil producing countries.
OPINION Vol.1 No.1 57 June 2013