Suchergebnisse

THERE IS A SHIFT TAKING PLACE IN MIDDLE EASTERN POLITICS. FUNDAMENTALIST VIOLENCE HAS BECOME THE GREATEST WORRY OF NEARLY EVERY GOVERNMENT IN THE REGION. THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES WHY MIDDLE EASTERNERS FELL SO THREATENED BY FUNDAMENTALIST MOVEMENTS AND IF THEY ARE EXAGGERATING THE THREAT. IT ALSO EXPLORES HOW THE U.S. GOVRNMENT IS DEALING WITH THE ISSUE.

THE CULTURAL FIREWORKS AHEAD WILL LIKELY TAKE PLACE AMONG MUSLIMS THEMSELVES--BETWEEN THOSE EAGER TO ACCEPT WESTERN WAYS AND THOSE WHO REJECT THEM. THIS ARTICLE SUGGESTS THAT IT'S A BATTLE BETWEEN SECULARIST AND FUNDAMENTALIST MUSLIMS--A COMPETITION BETWEEN TWO OF THE GREAT COUNTRIES OF THE MIDDLE EAST, TURKEY AND IRAN. IT'S LIKELY TO BE A LONG, DEEP, AND DIFFICULT FIGHT AND THE TROUBLE IS THAT THE TURKS DON'T YET REALIZE THAT THEY ARE ENGAGED IN THIS BATTLE. THE ROLE OF THE WEST IN THIS BATTLE IS EXPLORED.

THE PLO IS ISRAEL'S MOST INTIMATE AND PERMANENT ENEMY. THIS MAKES IT ESPECIALLY PARADOXICAL TO REALIZE JUST HOW DEEPLY THE PLO HAS BEEN SHAPED BY ZIONISM. FIRST, THE DELINEATION OF A TERRITORY CALLED PALESTINE IN 1918 WAS A ZIONIST ACHIEVEMENT. THE PLO EXISTS ONLY BECAUSE ISRAEL EXISTS. SECOND, HAD THE PLO'S ENEMY NOT BEEN ISRAEL, IT WOULD NOT HAVE ENJOYED THE EXTRAORDINARY INTERNATIONAL PROMINENCE THAT IT ACTUALLY DOES. THIRD, PALESTINIAN NATIONALISTS HAVE MODELED THEIR INSTITUTIONS, IDEAS AND PRACTICES ON THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT. THESE CONCEPTS ARE EXPLORED IN THIS ARTICLE.

In the author's view the origins of the idea of an Arab state resting between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea can be traced with precision to a single year - 1920. Four major events occurred in 1920. In March, Faysal was crowned king of Syria, raising expectations that Palestine would join this independent state. In April, the British put Palestine on the map, dashing those hopes. In July, French forces captured Damascus, ending the Palestinian tie with Syria. And in December, responding to these events, the Palestinian leadership adopted the goal of an independent Palestinian state. (DÜI-Hns)

Der Autor versucht, dem westlich geprägten Beobachter islamischer Politik die Rolle des Islam als autonome politische Kraft verständlich zu machen und auf grundlegende Unterschiede zum Verhältnis von Christentum und Politik hinzuweisen

THE AUTHORS ENDEAVOR TO DEFINE U.S. INTERESTS IN THE STATES THAT FORMERLY MADE UP YUGOSLAVIA AND TO SPECIFY WHAT U.S. POLICY SHOULD BE TOWARD THE NEW BALKAN STATES.