Deck 8: The Middle East and North Africa

Question 1

The Middle East is the birthplace for all of the following religions EXCEPT

A) Judaism
B) Christianity
C) Buddhism
D) Islam

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The region referred to as the "Middle East"

A) Is a clearly defined geographic area
B) Has been defined mostly in cultural terms
C) Is a geopolitical construct
D) Has not changed in the last 2,000 years

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The three distinct regions that are widely considered part of the "Middle East" include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) Sub-Saharan Africa
B) The Plains of North Africa and Arabia
C) The Fertile Crescent
D) The Northern Tier

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The theory that sees a country or region's physical location and its politics as inextricably linked is called

A) Geographic constructivism
B) Geopolitics
C) Political geography
D) Geographic realism

Question 5

According to OPEC data, roughly what percentage of the world's proven oil reserves can be found in the Middle East?

A) 10%
B) 25%
C) 50%
D) More than 60%

Question 6

One of the two important "choke points" for global trade in the Middle east is:

A) The Panama Canal
B) The Straight of Hormuz
C) The Straight of Malacca
D) The Bosporus

Question 7

In terms of the major language groups, the Middle East contains all of the following EXCEPT ______-speaking people.

A) Semitic
B) Turkish
C) Persian
D) Indo-European

Question 8

The word "Islam" roughly translates to

A) Faith
B) Struggle
C) Submission
D) Acceptance

Question 9

The hierarchy of principles guiding faithful Muslims is collectively referred to as

A) Jihad
B) Quran
C) Ijma
D) Shari'ah

Question 10

After Western dominance over the Middle East ended in the 15^th century, who took over as the new dominant power?

A) Iran
B) The Ottoman Empire
C) Russia
D) Prussia

Question 11

Which of the following was NOT a primary objective the United States pursued in becoming more involved in Middle Eastern affairs after World War II?

A) Concern over human rights violations
B) Interest in oil
C) A desire to protect Israel
D) The need to contain the Soviet Union

Question 12

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for MENA states is

A) Equally low across the board
B) Equally high across the board
C) About mid-range across the board
D) Very unevenly distributed

Question 13

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was primarily created to

A) Create a stronger basis for price negotiations
B) Coordinate transport of oil
C) Share oil technology
D) Coordinate oil production levels

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a common reason cited for the relative lack of development of the Middle East?

A) Inheritance and other practices based on the Quran
B) The over-reliance on oil
C) The great wealth disparity between oil-rich and oil-poor countries
D) The import of Western economic institutions

Question 15

During the Cold War, Western countries tended to

A) Intervene in the MENA region to oust dictators from power
B) Ignore the MENA region with a few minor exceptions
C) Tolerate dictators in MENA countries for the sake of stability
D) Support domestic opposition forces who sought to establish democracy in the region

Question 16

International trade data indicates that MENA is

A) One of the least integrated regions in the world.
B) In the lower half of integrated regions in the world.
C) In the upper half of integrated regions in the world.
D) One of the most integrated regions in the world.

Question 17

Out of the 21 MENA countries, what percentage is considered "free" according to Freedom House data?

A) 75%
B) 55%
C) 25%
D) 5%

Question 18

A democracy in which citizens have internalized the values and norms underlying democratic governance is considered to be a

A) Electoral democracy
B) Consolidated democracy
C) Transitional democracy
D) Sovereign democracy

Question 19

Fundamentalist Islamic movements in the Middle East engage in all of the following activities EXCEPT

A) Providing social services to citizens
B) Militant activities
C) Electoral activities
D) Diplomatic activities with foreign nations

Question 20

Which of the following was NOT an event that contributed to the emergence of Arab nationalism in the Middle East?

A) The conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire in 1453
B) The Arab Revolt between 1916 and 1918
C) The Palestinian Revolt between 1936 and 1939
D) The creation of the state of Israel in 1948

Question 21

According to the Realist theory of international relations, regions are most stable when

A) There is one dominant power in the region
B) There are two or more countries with equal power
C) A region is economically underdeveloped
D) A region is mostly democratic

Question 22

Which of the following rivalries has significantly impacted politics and the so-called balance of power in the Middle East?

A) Afghanistan vs. Pakistan
B) Israel vs. Jordan
C) Iran vs. Saudi Arabia
D) Lebanon vs. Syria

Question 23

Israel extended its territory through all of the following wars EXCEPT:

A) The war of 1948
B) The Six-Day War of 1967
C) The Yom Kippur War of 1973
D) The 2006 Lebanon War

Question 24

When the Egyptian president Anwar Sadat was assassinated after making peace with Israel, this could be considered an example of

A) The "Extremist Veto"
B) A protracted conflict
C) International terrorism
D) The balance of power

Question 25

UN Resolution 242

A) Calls for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
B) States that no country can legally acquire territory by means of war
C) Condemns the Palestinians for their use of suicide bombers
D) Definitively resolves the Palestinian refugee problem

Question 26

Throughout history, Afghanistan has earned the nickname "Graveyard of Empires," largely as a result of its rough terrain and inaccessible mountains that have made foreign invasion challenging.

Question 27

The split between the Shi'ia and Sunni branches of Islam resulted primarily from a disagreement over who should success the prophet Mohammed.

Question 28

The World Trade Organization applications from various MENA countries appear to have been overshadowed by political considerations.

Question 29

The beginnings of the rise of Islamic radicalism can be traced back to the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1918.

Question 30

The OPEC cartel was very effective from the moment it was created.

Question 31

MENA investment in renewable energy sources has increased significantly in recent years.

Question 32

Since gaining independence, most Middle Eastern countries have shown a sustained commitment to constitutional government.

Question 33

Western countries have always attempted to promote democracy in the Middle East.

Question 34

Arab nationalism emerged in the 20^th century, largely as a response to Western colonialism.

Question 35

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is primarily about religion.

Question 36

What does it mean when scholars argue that the "Middle East" is a geopolitical construct? What are competing approaches to defining the region and what are arguments for and against each option?

Question 37

What role has oil played in the MENA countries with regard to economic development, political development, and the region's relationship with the West? Please provide specific details and examples and address cause-effect relationships.

Question 38

It is well established that the MENA region is the least "free" region in the world, with only 5% of its countries considered to be liberal democracies. Please discuss at least one economic, political, and cultural factor each that serves as a potential causal explanation for this phenomenon. Please also discuss what you believe needs to change in order for democracy to gain a greater foothold in the region and how likely you think this is to happen in the 21^st century.

Question 39

Some scholars have claimed that Islam and democracy are inherently incompatible. Please write an essay that addresses arguments that support this claim and arguments that contradict it. In your answer, please also consider the relationship between other major religions and democracy.

Question 40

Please discuss at least four elements that lie at the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict, how they have contributed to the conflict over the years, and how they might be overcome in order to create peace in the future.