Globalization and the Already Unstable Middle East

            Globalization has had profound impact on culture, consumerism and politics throughout the world, and particularly within Southwest Asia. For the most part, the Middle East has always prided itself on its tradition, culture, religion and near isolation from the outside world. However, in this growing globalized world, the Middle East has become exposed to modernization, democracy, freedom and outside cultures, which have had a significant affect on the societies that are present. While globalization is usually perceived as a positive for the world, for this region, the problems that have arisen due to increased globalization are certainly impactful on citizens within these countries, and for the rest of the world. Increased globalization in the area has done a lot in increasing the call for secularization and freedom, but it has also left an already unstable region even worse off, and oppressive regimes more likely to resort to aggressive tendencies.

            Globalization and the spread of western culture, food and ideologies to the primarily traditionally Muslim and conservative Middle East has led to significant instability in the region, with two very separate sides grappling for control of everyday life. The traditional, Muslim clerics in various countries in this region are in a constant struggle with the progressive and modernized youth who are fighting for freedom, westernization and modernization within society. Though this move towards Western ideology, democracy and freedom would seem to be in line with the American culture, and would therefore be a positive for the United States, it is leading to significant problems around the region. Today’s Middle East region is a collection of western and traditional culture and way of life, with western restaurants and movie theaters lining streets that women in Burqas are walking though. This clash of two very distinctive ways of life has caused significant clashes between traditional government and power structures and the westernized and freedom hungry younger citizens. Take Iran for example. As Franklin Foer described in his book, How Soccer Explains the World, Iran was exposed to certain detrimental aftereffects of globalization, particularly concerning the rise of theocracy and the loss of any semblance of western or liberal ideology. Specifically, Foer discusses how the Shah’s regime “pushed the country too hard, too fast” in its attempt at modernization and globalization (Foer 228). This inevitably lead to the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the rise of the theocratic regime, which pushed Iran deeper into a world of traditional and cultural closed mindedness. Foer is adamant throughout his writing that too much globalization, westernization and modernization in too quick a time is the reason for what was a newfound entrance into theocratic rule, and Muslim way of life. In this sense, globalization to the Middle East can sometimes do more in hurting the westernization and modernization movement than helping it, which can certainly be personified through what occurred in Iran in 1979.

            The inevitable tug of war that occurs between religious and cultural leaders and the liberal youth that stems from global exposure often times leads to violent resistance and genocidal tendencies. There is no doubt that countries like Libya, Syria and Egypt, which have been ravaged with Civil War, chemical weapons and violent resistance dealt with these problems because of the influence of westernization and globalization. People that are in power in these countries are usually older religious clerics that do not believe in democracy, western ideals or modernization. However, with this new generation, full of social media and communication, the younger populations are exposed to freedoms and democracy that they have never seen before. While this is usually a good thing, the violent repercussions that have sprung up because of it are terrifying and take on the look of genocide. To have globalization make a positive impact on traditional Middle Eastern society, it is important to make sure that it happens on its own time. It is inevitable that the new generation will be more inclined to embrace westernization and global change. Therefore, it is best to simply wait out the process, and slowly adapt certain aspects of western culture. It is not necessary to call for complete change, which has happened in the past. That is where globalization has failed for the Middle East in the past.

Foer, Franklin (2010). How Soccer Explains the World; An Unlikely Theory of Globalization. New York, New York; HarperCollins Publisher.