How Great Was the Impact of the Rise of Religious Fundamentalism in the Middle East on Regional Security from 1970 to 2000?
The rise of religious fundamentalism in the Middle East mostly had a negative impact on regional security from 1970 to 2000. There were many reasons for the rise and it was mainly due to the Islamic fundamentalism as they were described as a turning point. Regional security refers to the security concerns and well being of the regional states in the Middle East.
Religious fundamentalism was initially caused by the desire to recreate the golden age of the religion and improving the present, yet they were also unwilling to compromise with reality. Religious fundamental groups became more popular as they were able to convince the people that the mainstream groups were unable to do a good job in various areas thus leading to a rise in people wanting to join these groups, resulting in the rise of religious fundamentalism. Soon, at the turn of a new millennium, religious ideology was clearly back on political agenda in frightening ways, they were accompanied by violence after problems were unable to be solved.
Rather than bringing stability by solving pre-existing problems, there was domestic instability which worsened existing tensions. There was anti-democracy, despite populist rhetoric, calls for mass empowerment and popular participation, they were not forerunners of democracy and freedom in the Middle East but new religious Bolsheviks and authoritarians. The territories were occupied for examples the rise of Hamas led to competition between the secular PLO, second generation Palestinians and religious Hamas for leadership of the Palestinian people. In Iran, the creation of the Shiite theocracy led emboldened the Shiite minority in the other Middle East states to rise against the Sunni dominated governments like Lebanon, Gulf monarchies. There were instances of Islamic discontent among the Shiite groups and coup plots against monarchs by the Islamic fundamentalism. They all made a difference and affected the regional security negatively.
Governments were
Religious fundamentalism was initially caused by the desire to recreate the golden age of the religion and improving the present, yet they were also unwilling to compromise with reality. Religious fundamental groups became more popular as they were able to convince the people that the mainstream groups were unable to do a good job in various areas thus leading to a rise in people wanting to join these groups, resulting in the rise of religious fundamentalism. Soon, at the turn of a new millennium, religious ideology was clearly back on political agenda in frightening ways, they were accompanied by violence after problems were unable to be solved.
Rather than bringing stability by solving pre-existing problems, there was domestic instability which worsened existing tensions. There was anti-democracy, despite populist rhetoric, calls for mass empowerment and popular participation, they were not forerunners of democracy and freedom in the Middle East but new religious Bolsheviks and authoritarians. The territories were occupied for examples the rise of Hamas led to competition between the secular PLO, second generation Palestinians and religious Hamas for leadership of the Palestinian people. In Iran, the creation of the Shiite theocracy led emboldened the Shiite minority in the other Middle East states to rise against the Sunni dominated governments like Lebanon, Gulf monarchies. There were instances of Islamic discontent among the Shiite groups and coup plots against monarchs by the Islamic fundamentalism. They all made a difference and affected the regional security negatively.
Governments were