The Future of the Middle East

Faith, Force, and Finance

By (author) Monte Palmer

Publication date:

24 November 2018

Length of book:

216 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Dimensions:

238x157mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9781538117880

This deeply informed book considers the intertwined roles of faith, force, and finance in shaping the modern Middle East. Leading expert Monte Palmer argues that these factors will continue to have a major impact on the Middle East as the United States and other major powers increasingly find themselves embedded in conflicts that defy resolution. Palmer considers the lessons learned from past and current conflicts: the limits of using tyrants as avenues of force; the transformation of faith into force; the root causes of terror; and the perils of a global environment that threatens a new cold war between Russia and the United States, a war of religions between the Abrahamic faiths, and a war of terror that is rapidly becoming global. As he clearly shows, the relative dominance of faith, force, or finance is always shifting, depending on time, place, and local conditions. Drawing on cases from ten critical periods, from World War I through the current chaos and stalemate, the author offers constructive paths forward for building a Middle East of peace and stability.

Preface

1 The Power of Faith, Force, and Finance

The Power of Faith

The Power of Force

The Power of Finance

Arms Purchases as Power

Gifts as Soft Influence and Image Building

Finance as the Key to Regional Control

Finance as Alliance Building

Finance as a Social Contract

Using Finance to Promote Faith and Force

The United States’ Soft Power in the Middle East

Between Faith, Force, and Finance

2 World War I Sets the Stage for the Modern Middle East (1914–1940)

Turkey: Force versus Islam

Egypt: The Muslim Brotherhood Pits Popular Islam against Colonialism

Israel: Palestine Becomes a Homeland for the Jews

Iraq: British Control of the Iraqi Shia

Lessons Learned

Faith

Force

Finance

The Balance of Faith, Force, and Finance

3 World War II Reshapes the Middle East (1940–1967)

Egypt and Arab Unity: Using Charisma, Nationalism, and Socialism as Faith Alternatives to Islam

Israel Reborn: War, Peace, and Biblical Prophecy

Saudi Arabia: Tribal Force, Islamic Faith, and the Country’s Creation

Iran: The Danger of Puppet Rulers

Lessons Learned

4 A Surge of Religious Extremism (1967–1980)

Egypt: Arab Nationalism Collapses and Religious

Extremism Surges

Israel: Force Gives Way to Extremism

Saudi Arabia: Finance to the Fore

Syria and Iraq: Minority Rule

Iraq: Same Formula, Different Faith

Lessons Learned

5 Religious Violence Unleashed (1975–1990)

Egypt: The Rise of Salafi-Jihadist Terror and the Muslim Brotherhood

The Peaceful Salafi and the Salafi-Jihadists

Salafi-Jihadists versus the Muslim Brotherhood: How They Differ

Saudi Arabia: The Expansion of Salafi Doctrine

Iran: The First Islamic State in the Modern Era

Using Faith to Build a Nation

Transforming Faith into Military Force

Lessons Learned

6 The Era of Peace, Stability, and Illusion (1990–2000)

How the Collapse of the Soviet Union Fueled Islamic Extremism in the Middle East

Control of the Middle Eastern Tyrants

The Passing of the Ayatollah Khomeini and the Transfer of Faith

The Illusion of Peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians

The Formation of International Islamic Terrorist Networks

The Turabi Terrorist Network

Lessons Learned

7 The Era of Global Terror and Counter-Terror (2000–2010)

Afghanistan and the Restructuring of Bin-Laden’s Al-Qaeda Network

The War on Terror Expands into Iraq

Israel and the War on Terror

Saudi Arabia and the War of Terror

Lessons Learned

8 The Era of Islamic Rule (2010–2013)

Islam Lite: The Turkish Model

Egypt: Why Rule by the Muslim Brotherhood Failed

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)

Is Iran a Greater Threat than ISIS?

Lessons Learned

9 The Old Order Strikes Back (2017)

The United States Forges an Alliance of Peace and Stability to Build a New Middle East

Turkey as a Link between the Past and Present

Israel Strikes Back at the New Islamic Order

Egypt: The United States Declares Coups the First Step toward Democracy

Saudi Arabia: Can the Protector of Islam Protect Itself from Islam?

Lessons Learned

10 Solutions to an Era of Stalemate (Post-2017)

The Stairway to Terror

Step 1. Festering Frustration

Step 2: Despair Breeds Violent Groups

Step 3: Seeking and Risk Taking

Step 4: Weeding Out the Chaff

Step 5: Becoming a Warrior for God

Step 6: Consolidation and Globalization

The Failure of Prevailing Counter-Terror

Harsh Realities and Lessons Learned

Five Vital Problems to Be Addressed

Stopping the Terrorists

Preventing the Despair Base of Terror

Preventing Religious Extremists from Exploiting the Despair of the Masses

Working with Islam

Resolving Conflicts that Trigger Violence in the Middle East

Solutions

Stop the Terror without Accentuating the Causes and Facilitators of Terror

Prevent the Despair Base of Terror

Use Moderate Islam as a Solution to Extremism

Integrate Muslims into the World Community

Resolve Conflicts Triggering Violence in the Middle East

Ultimate Solutions

Works Cited

About the Author

Recommended: In recent years the Middle East has dominated the news, yet many people struggle to understand the how and why. Palmer provides a concise and accessible chronological introduction, using the framework of faith, force, and finance to explain the modern Middle East. Each chapter focuses on a specific time period (starting with 1914–40 and concluding with "post–2017") and examines major events; each chapter concludes with "lessons learned,” which summarizes the key points. “Faith” refers to both religious beliefs and faith in the nation or a charismatic leader, e.g., Gamal Abdel Nasser; "force" includes state force and terrorism; "finance" focuses on the ways governments and non-state actors use oil wealth, foreign aid, and other revenue to maintain power or carry out their agendas. Palmer includes the US as a prominent actor in the region, wielding its own faith, force, and finance. In order to keep the length of the book in check, Palmer limits his analysis to the major players in the region, particularly Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Iraq, along with non-state actors, such as ISIS. The last chapter outlines possible solutions to reduce or eliminate terror, improve life for those living in the Middle East, and stabilize global relations.