Nationalism In The Middle East

The study of international relations is very broad and complex. It is the study of nations and states and how they are formed. It is also the study of measures, such as revolutions and wars, that create different nations and states and the reasons behind such measures. One important concept in international relations is the view of nationalism. Nationalism is a part of every nation and state and thus is relevant to each country. An important geographical area where nationalism relates directly to the events occurring today would be in the Middle East where nationalistic views of two different nations, that of Jews and Arabs, coincide to create a very volatile conflict that has run its course for nearly a whole century.

A “nation” is defined as a group with a common culture, language, folkways, and values. A “state” refers to a government in control of territory and population. For example, Israel is a state and a nation since it consists mainly of Jews. However, Palestine is a nation because it consists of Arabs with a common culture, but not a State, since the International community does not recognize it as one. Nationalism is the view that a nation and state in a specific area should coincide. It is the view that says that a specific group with a common culture should be allowed to form its own state and thus its own form of government to govern itself. Thus, nationalism is related to every country and so is very important in the study of International relations.

The most damaging weakness in Nationalism is that Nationalism may cause a culture to consider itself superior to all other cultures. This in turn may be used as a justification to eliminate other groups. A prime example is that of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. But, on the other hand, this superior attitude towards other cultures could cause severe tension between whoever is involved, and in turn cause the inferior country to lash out causing a conflict or in this case war. Thus, nationalism is one of the important causes of revolutions, borders, and wars even in the world today.

An important geographical area where the affects and causes of nationalism can be seen with clarity is the Middle East. The history of the Middle East is long and very complex relating back to more than three thousand years. The main conflict in the area today...

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...ontinuing problems between the two manifestations of nationalism of Arabs and Jews.

The Palestine War of 1948 was not the only major conflict between the two nations in the Middle East. Since then, there has been the Six Day War of 1967, the October War of 1973, the Palestinian Uprising of 1967, and perhaps more recently going on at this very moment the newest surge of Palestinian uprising in Israel that began in September of 2000. There are still tough issues to resolve between the two sides, issues such as Jerusalem, which is holy to both Jews and Muslims. Since both nations want full sovereignty over the Holy City and nothing less, this has become an important issue in their nationalistic views. Violent conflicts over such continue to spill blood, both Jewish and Arab, and bring more fear and pain into the already desperate situation. These conflicts are a continuing reminder of how nationalism, in this case both Jewish and Arab, can cause revolutions, uprisings, and wars in order for the creation of states. It is a continuing reminder of how nationalism relates to international relations and its importance in each individual country in the world.