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

Economic Incentives for People. When Arab uprising began to make headlines, King
Abdullah improved economic condition of the people through special financial packages worth US $ 130
billion first in December 2010 and then in March 2011. This greatly helped in quelling the uprising.
Bahrain
The Protests. In Bahrain, the protests started in February 2011. The main causes were
alienation of Shia majority being ruled by Sunni government 17 , their frustrations due to human rights
abuses and lack of political freedom. Protests remained peaceful until police raided on protesters on 17
February in Manama in which four protesters were killed. The protesters now started demanding end of
Monarchy resulting in heavy clashes with security forces.
GCC Forces Entered Bahrain. The protests gathered momentum during February and March
2011. Finally, on 14 March 2011, on the request of Bahrain’s government Saudi led GCC forces entered
Bahrain which was strongly protested by protesters. Simultaneously, King Hamad Bin Isa Ali Khalifa
pronounced emergency on 15 March 2011 and ordered the military to subdue the protests. The armed
forces used force and suppressed the protests in Manama. Since then off and on small scale protests are
being witnessed in Bahrain.
Kuwait, Oman, Morocco, UAE, Iraq and Other Arab Countries
Similarly, protests of varying intensity were organized by the people in Kuwait, Oman, UAE,
Qatar, Iraq and other Arab countries of the region. Although, respective governments could quell the
protest, at least temporarily, with a mix of measures such as financial incentives, promises for reforms
and jobs creation, the unrest is prevailing in most of the Arab countries as is evident from on and off
protests in various countries.
Middle East and North African Region
Historical Perspective
Creation of Middle East States. Middle East states were created after fall of Ottoman Empire
from 1918 onwards. Sykes-Picot agreement 18 between British and France (1916) divided Middle East
into different states. Syria and Lebanon became French colonies and Iraq and Palestine came under
British control. Palestine was split, Eastern part as kingdom of Jordan and Western part as Palestine
under direct British rule. Iraq became the kingdom and son of Sharif Hussain, who led Arab Revolt
against Ottomans, was made the king. The Arabian Peninsula fell to another British ally, Ibn Saud who
created Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932.
Creation of Jewish State. British, via Balfour Declaration (1917) promised to create a Jewish
homeland in Palestine which was primarily the Arab territory. Massive Jewish immigration took place
from various parts of world to Palestine resulting in Arabs revolts from 1936 to 1939. On 29 November
1947, UN approved creation of independent Arab and Jewish states. Jerusalem was to be administered by
UN. The plan was not accepted by Arabs and the violence broke out killing hundreds of people. Amidst
violence and civil war, Jewish People’s Council declared establishment of State of Israel on 14 May
1948.
Creation of North African States. After the middle ages, North Africa remained loosely under
the control of Ottoman Empire except for Morocco. The Ottoman’s rule was centered on the cities of
Tunis, Algiers and Tripoli. During 18 th and 19 th centuries, North Africa was colonized by France, Spain,
United Kingdom and Italy. From 1950 to 1970 all North African states gained independence from their
European rulers.
Significance of the Region. Throughout its history, the Middle East has been strategically,
economically, politically, culturally, and religiously a sensitive area. It is the birthplace and spiritual
center of three “monotheist religions” such as Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Today, a number of long
established ethnic groups including, Arabs, Turks, Persians, Jews, Kurds and Egyptian Copts live in
Middle East.
Geography
Middle East and North Africa are situated at the juncture of Europe, Asia, and Africa and of the
Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Asian part of the Arab world is called Mashriq, which includes
countries such as Iraq, Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon and Syria. The Maghreb is defined as most of
OPINION Vol.1 No.1 56 June 2013