Question 1

How has Hizbullah's involvement in Syria since 2011 undermined its image and reputation as a grassroots resistance movement?

Accepted Answer

Hizbullah began as a resistance movement based on the premise of driving Israel out of its occupation in Lebanon-and, more broadly speaking, over Arab populations in Palestine. Additionally, Hizbullah proclaims to represent the Shi‛a, who have been historically the most marginalized sectarian group in Lebanon. It has thus shaped an image for itself as being a resistance movement for the downtrodden, within Lebanon and across the broader region. However, it's direct military involvement in the Syrian Civil War on behalf of the brutal al-Asad regime has muddled this image as the Syrian regime has used overwhelming violence to crush any challenge to its power. Hizbullah has thus become aligned since 2011 not with bottom-up resistance but with those in power in Syria doing everything possible to quash protest and rebellion.

Question 2

Which of the following actors in Lebanese politics emphasized Lebanon's confrontation with external enemies?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hizbullah 
B)  Maronite President Emile Lahoud 
C)  Sunni PM Rafiq Hariri 
D)  Both Hizbullah and President Emile Lahoud 
A)  Hizbullah 
B)  Maronite President Emile Lahoud 
C)  Sunni PM Rafiq Hariri 
D)  Both Hizbullah and President Emile Lahoud D

Question 3

Which of the following statements accurately describes the demonstrations at Gezi Park in 2013?

Accepted Answer

A)  They began with a peaceful sit-in to block a shopping arcade from being built on one of the city's few remaining parks. 
B)  Nationwide demonstrations followed in which a dozen people were killed and thousands were injured and arrested. 
C)  The incident revealed Erdogan's close ties to big business and his use of authoritarian policies to facilitate such ties 
D)  All of these statements accurately describe the demonstrations at Gezi Park in 2013 
A)  They began with a peaceful sit-in to block a shopping arcade from being built on one of the city's few remaining parks. 
B)  Nationwide demonstrations followed in which a dozen people were killed and thousands were injured and arrested. 
C)  The incident revealed Erdogan's close ties to big business and his use of authoritarian policies to facilitate such ties 
D)  All of these statements accurately describe the demonstrations at Gezi Park in 2013 D

Question 4

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the 2009 presidential election by a landslide, amidst allegations of vote-rigging and fraud.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Which of the following best defines the Anatolian tigers?

Accepted Answer

A)  Massive government investment in development of central Turkey gave rise to these new entrepreneurs 
B)  Peasants who revolted against the True Path Party's economic policies 
C)  Newly arrived urban working poor came to form this group that at times engaged in violence driven by socioeconomic alienation 
D)  An environmental group focused on protecting the rapidly urbanizing central Turkish heartland 
A)  Massive government investment in development of central Turkey gave rise to these new entrepreneurs 
B)  Peasants who revolted against the True Path Party's economic policies 
C)  Newly arrived urban working poor came to form this group that at times engaged in violence driven by socioeconomic alienation 
D)  An environmental group focused on protecting the rapidly urbanizing central Turkish heartland

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT true regarding the Cedar revolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  It included Sunnis, Druze, and some Christians 
B)  It culminated in the successful withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon 
C)  It forged an entirely new vision for Lebanon's future 
D)  It was sparked by people calling for an investigation into the assassination of Rafiq Hariri 
A)  It included Sunnis, Druze, and some Christians 
B)  It culminated in the successful withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon 
C)  It forged an entirely new vision for Lebanon's future 
D)  It was sparked by people calling for an investigation into the assassination of Rafiq Hariri

Question 7

Briefly explain the effects the antileftist measures adopted during the 1980-1983 military intervention had on religion in society in Turkey.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Briefly explain the effects the antileftist measures...

Question 8

Briefly explain how the term "elected authoritarianism" applies to Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Briefly explain how the term "elected authoritarianism"...

Question 9

What gives Turkish Kurds their sense of communal identity?

Accepted Answer

A)  The repressive nature of the Turkish state 
B)  Their formation of political parties and local leadership 
C)  Their military strength 
D)  Their shared geographical space and distinct language 
A)  The repressive nature of the Turkish state 
B)  Their formation of political parties and local leadership 
C)  Their military strength 
D)  Their shared geographical space and distinct language

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT true about Lebanon's March 14 forces?

Accepted Answer

A)  "March 14" gets its name from a massive demonstration in Lebanon, with people protesting Syria's role in the assassination of Sunni prime minister Rafiq Hariri 
B)  The March 14 coalition was made up of Sunnis, Druze, and some Christians 
C)  The Shi'a community embraced the March 14 coalition 
D)  The March 14 coalition was successful in pressuring Syria into withdrawing its troops from Lebanon 
A)  "March 14" gets its name from a massive demonstration in Lebanon, with people protesting Syria's role in the assassination of Sunni prime minister Rafiq Hariri 
B)  The March 14 coalition was made up of Sunnis, Druze, and some Christians 
C)  The Shi'a community embraced the March 14 coalition 
D)  The March 14 coalition was successful in pressuring Syria into withdrawing its troops from Lebanon

Question 11

What about the AKP caused the military establishment and defeated politicians in Turkey the most concern?

Accepted Answer

A)  The party's Islamic complexion 
B)  Its rejection of established political parties 
C)  Its leftist welfare policies 
D)  Its leader Erdogan's past policies towards the Kurds 
A)  The party's Islamic complexion 
B)  Its rejection of established political parties 
C)  Its leftist welfare policies 
D)  Its leader Erdogan's past policies towards the Kurds

Question 12

Which of the following was a reason the European Union questioned Turkey's potential acceptance into the EU?

Accepted Answer

A)  Turkey's human rights violations against the Kurds and use of the death penalty 
B)  Turkey's shaky democratic foundations 
C)  Turkey's weak economic development 
D)  All of these answers are correct. 
A)  Turkey's human rights violations against the Kurds and use of the death penalty 
B)  Turkey's shaky democratic foundations 
C)  Turkey's weak economic development 
D)  All of these answers are correct.

Question 13

What factors have shaped the rising authoritarianism of national politics in Turkey? Have external variables had, on balance, a more democratic or authoritarian effect on the national leadership in Turkey over the past five years?

Accepted Answer

The rising authoritarianism of national

Question 14

Which of the following defines the Doha Agreement?

Accepted Answer

A)  A set of trade negotiations set in Doha, Qatar, that would have mixed effects on Lebanon's economy and, ultimately, sectarian relations 
B)  An effort led by Qatari prime minister that provided for the election of a new Maronite president but gave the Hizbullah-led opposition an effective veto over government policies 
C)  A mutually beneficial political agreement between Hizbullah and President al-Asad of Syria 
D)  A secret agreement between the Arab monarchies, the Lebanese Maronites, helping to ensure against Hizbullah's presence in Lebanon and throughout the region 
A)  A set of trade negotiations set in Doha, Qatar, that would have mixed effects on Lebanon's economy and, ultimately, sectarian relations 
B)  An effort led by Qatari prime minister that provided for the election of a new Maronite president but gave the Hizbullah-led opposition an effective veto over government policies 
C)  A mutually beneficial political agreement between Hizbullah and President al-Asad of Syria 
D)  A secret agreement between the Arab monarchies, the Lebanese Maronites, helping to ensure against Hizbullah's presence in Lebanon and throughout the region

Question 15

Which of the following statements is NOT true of Hizbullah?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is Hizbullah's leader 
B)  Hizbullah membership and support is predominantly Sunni 
C)  Hizbullah operates as both a militant group and as one of Lebanon's best-organized political parties 
D)  The Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 was considered a Hizbullah victory 
A)  Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is Hizbullah's leader 
B)  Hizbullah membership and support is predominantly Sunni 
C)  Hizbullah operates as both a militant group and as one of Lebanon's best-organized political parties 
D)  The Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 was considered a Hizbullah victory

Question 16

How did the Council of Guardians ensure a majority of conservative Majlis members in the 2004 elections in Iran?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Council of Guardians funded many conservative candidates 
B)  The Council of Guardians did not allow large swaths of the country-in particular, its more liberal big cities-to cast votes 
C)  The Council of Guardians purged the selection of candidates by disqualifying more than 2,000 reformists 
D)  The Council of Guardians canceled the elections due to terrorist threats and then filled the Majlis with their chosen candidates 
A)  The Council of Guardians funded many conservative candidates 
B)  The Council of Guardians did not allow large swaths of the country-in particular, its more liberal big cities-to cast votes 
C)  The Council of Guardians purged the selection of candidates by disqualifying more than 2,000 reformists 
D)  The Council of Guardians canceled the elections due to terrorist threats and then filled the Majlis with their chosen candidates

Question 17

In Iran, the supreme Islamic jurist does not have the power to override decisions of the Council of Guardians.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

What caused the turn toward Islamist organizations in Turkey in the 1990s?

Accepted Answer

A)  Kemalism was widely rejected by the state and military apparatuses 
B)  With party restrictions becoming more lax, the Turkish people sought to develop and fully experience their democratic state. Islamist organizations were only a small segment of the newly established parties, but they were the most vocal 
C)  The assassinations of well-known religious leaders in neighboring countries made the Turkish population sympathetic to Islamist organizations 
D)  The proliferation of parties reflected the failure of the mainstream political groupings to satisfy popular aspirations; people sought out, instead, more narrowly focused agendas, including religious ones 
A)  Kemalism was widely rejected by the state and military apparatuses 
B)  With party restrictions becoming more lax, the Turkish people sought to develop and fully experience their democratic state. Islamist organizations were only a small segment of the newly established parties, but they were the most vocal 
C)  The assassinations of well-known religious leaders in neighboring countries made the Turkish population sympathetic to Islamist organizations 
D)  The proliferation of parties reflected the failure of the mainstream political groupings to satisfy popular aspirations; people sought out, instead, more narrowly focused agendas, including religious ones

Question 19

Since the 1990s, Turkey has actively sought membership in the __________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Since the 1990s, Turkey has actively sought...

Question 20

In defending the secular legacy of ____________ in the 1990s, the Turkish military would routinely encroach on civilian control of the democratic republic.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In defending the secular legacy of ____________...

Exam 24: Patterns of Continuity and Change in Turkey, Iran, and Lebanon

How has Hizbullah's involvement in Syria since 2011 undermined its image and reputation as a grassroots resistance movement?

Which of the following actors in Lebanese politics emphasized Lebanon's confrontation with external enemies?

Which of the following statements accurately describes the demonstrations at Gezi Park in 2013?

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the 2009 presidential election by a landslide, amidst allegations of vote-rigging and fraud.

Which of the following best defines the Anatolian tigers?

Which of the following is NOT true regarding the Cedar revolution?

Briefly explain the effects the antileftist measures adopted during the 1980-1983 military intervention had on religion in society in Turkey.

Briefly explain how the term "elected authoritarianism" applies to Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

What gives Turkish Kurds their sense of communal identity?

Which of the following is NOT true about Lebanon's March 14 forces?

What about the AKP caused the military establishment and defeated politicians in Turkey the most concern?

Which of the following was a reason the European Union questioned Turkey's potential acceptance into the EU?

What factors have shaped the rising authoritarianism of national politics in Turkey? Have external variables had, on balance, a more democratic or authoritarian effect on the national leadership in Turkey over the past five years?

Which of the following defines the Doha Agreement?

Which of the following statements is NOT true of Hizbullah?

How did the Council of Guardians ensure a majority of conservative Majlis members in the 2004 elections in Iran?

In Iran, the supreme Islamic jurist does not have the power to override decisions of the Council of Guardians.

What caused the turn toward Islamist organizations in Turkey in the 1990s?

Since the 1990s, Turkey has actively sought membership in the __________________.

In defending the secular legacy of ____________ in the 1990s, the Turkish military would routinely encroach on civilian control of the democratic republic.

The Rise and Expansion of Islam

The Development of Islamic Civilization to the Fifteenth Century

The Ottoman and Safavid Empires: a New Imperial Synthesis

Forging a New Synthesis: the Pattern of Reforms, 17891849

The Ottoman Empire and Egypt During the Era of the Tanzimat

Egypt and Iran in the Late Nineteenth Century

The Response of Islamic Society

The Era of the Young Turks and the Iranian Constitutionalists

World War I and the End of the Ottoman Order

Authoritarian Reform in Turkey and Iran

The Arab Struggle for Independence: Egypt, Iraq, and Transjordan From the Interwar Era to 1945

The Arab Struggle for Independence: Syria, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia From the Interwar Era to 1945

The Palestine Mandate and the Birth of the State of Israel

Democracy and Authoritarianism: Turkey and Iran

The Middle East in the Age of Nasser: the Egyptian Base

The Middle East in the Age of Nasser: the Radicalization of Arab Politics

Israel and the Palestinians From 1948 to the 1970s

The Iranian Revolution and the Revival of Islam

Changing Patterns of War and Peace: Egypt and Lebanon in the 1970s and 1980s

The Arabian Peninsula in the Petroleum Era

The Consolidation of the Authoritarian Rule in Syria and Iraq: the Regimes of Hafiz Al-Asad and Saddam Husayn

The Palestinian Intifada and the 1991 Gulf War

A Peace so Near, a Peace so Far: Israeli-Palestinian Relations Since the 1991 Gulf War

Americas Troubled Moment in the Middle East

The 2011 Arab Uprisings

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