Transcript 7. N. Africa/SW Asia

Middle East
 Background
– location in area of great physical and human
interaction with diffusion of ideas and peoples
– importance of outside influences impinging of
established cultures
– dominance of Islam and Arabic language except
for Turkey, Iran, and Israel
– presence of 2/3’s of world’s oil resources
– rapid economic and geographical changes after
WWI
– impact of the establishment of the state of Israel in
1948
– existence of strategic“choke points” like Strait of
Gibraltar, Dardanelles and Bosporous, Suez
Canal, and Strait of Hormuz
– revival of Islamic fundamentalism
– cohesion of a distinctive physical environment
dominated by arid conditions
– most people live on desert margins where water is
available, ie. Mediterranean coast, Nile/TigrisEphrates, or highlands of Turkey/Iran
– North African and Southwest Asian countries
occupy 11% of world’s land but only 7% of the
world’s people.
– one of world’s most strategic areas, cockpit of
international conflict and political instability
– five sub-regions: (1) North Africa, west of Egypt;
(2) Nile Valley; (3) Heartland of Arab world from
Syria to Oman; (4) Israel, Gaza, and West Bank;
(5) Iran and Turkey
 Islamic
Religion and Arabic Language
– Islam is most basic and influential element of the
region
– Islam established by Mohammed in Arabian
peninsula, spread from Arabia to North Africa
and Spain in west and Central Asia in east
– Five pillars of Islam
 (1)
profession of faith, shahada
 (2) daily prayer
 (3) giving alms, zakat
 (4) fasting in the month of Ramadan
 (5) making the pilgrimage to Mecca, hajj
– divisions within Islam between Sunni and Shia
(90% of Iranian population are Shiites)
– gender inequalities in Muslim countries
– importance of Arabic language as unifying cultural
force with regional variations
– language of Holy Koran
– Muslim mosques distinctive feature of cities/towns
– Berber language in North Africa; Persian (Farsi)
in Iran; Turkish language in Turkey; Kurdish
language in parts of Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria;
and Hebrew in Israel
– Islamic art, architecture, and calligraphy
Sacred Mosque at Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Mosque of the Prophet at Medina, Saudi Arabia
 Natural
Environment
– dry climate and desert vegetation
 whole
region dominated by arid conditions, high
evaporation, high temperatures
 some marginal areas receive more rain like coasts of
western North Africa, eastern Mediterranean, mountains
of Turkey and Iran
 coastal locations and guaranteed sunshine attract tourists
 advantage of growing citrus fruits, olives, grapes and
early vegetables for domestic and foreign markets
– scarcity of water
 water
available from melting snows in mountains of
Maghrib, Turkey, Iran, from underground stores
(oases), from external sources like equatorial rains that
feed the Nile
 growth of oil industry, urbanization, and
industrialization have major impacts on limited water
resources
 desalination plants
 desertifiction began thousands of years ago- North
Africa was breadbasket of Roman empire, cave
paintings reveal a more moist environment
Middle East Climates
– oil resources
 discovery
of oil in Saudi Arabia and Gulf fundamental
altered region
 Saudi Arabia and Gulf contain 2/3’s of world’s proven
reserves of oil
 rest of region either has no oil or relatively little oil.
Libya has significant oil resources; Tunisia, Egypt, and
Syria produce limited quantities of oil
 tremendous impact of oil on domestic economies and the
world economy
 period of 1973-80 one of high oil prices and
accumulation of large capital reserves
 establishment
of OPEC in 1960, oil cartel of major
producers to keep supply and demand favorable
 use of the oil weapon in 1973 punish West for support
of Israel in Yom Kipper War
 fourfold increase in price of oil leading to massive oil
revenues for OPEC countries
 major investments in new roads, hospitals, government
buildings, airports, and military hardware
 influx of immigrant labor in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Gulf
States
 impact of falling oil prices in 80’s and 90’s on domestic
economies
 Gulf
War 1991 fought to prevent Saddam Hussein
from controlling vast petroleum reserves of region
 ecological consequences of the war, retreating Iraqi
soldiers set 700 oil wells on fire, impact of fires on
air pollution, and pollution of Persian Gulf
 threat of continuing instability in the region
 American intervention and occupation of Iraq
 Rise of militant Islam
 Prospects for stability very uncertain
North Africa; Physical Map
North Africa
Physical Map
 NORTH AFRICA
– Background
 composed
of Algeria, Libya, Morocco (Western Sahara),
and Tunisia
 region also known as the Maghrib
 westernmost sector of the Arab world
 diverse historical influences- Phoenicians, Romans,
Vandals, Ottomans, and French
 Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia retain close ties with
France
 strong link to markets in Europe for selling products,
buying goods,
 share
an adherence to Islam as the dominant religion and
Arabic as the official language (educated classes still
speak French)
 link with other Muslim Arab countries strengthened when
Arab League headquarters from Cairo (Egypt) to Tunis.
 countries exist in a harsh, largely arid environment that
restricts agriculture
 most human settlement confined to a small percentage of
their territory,
 increasing problems of water supply as the population
continues to increase rapidly
 Algeria,
Libya, and, to a smaller extent, Tunisia are now
oil producers with income from this source has been
invested in broadening the economic base into
manufacturing.
 the four countries of North Africa have population
around 28 million
 Libya and Tunisia have natural environments that
include cultivated coastal areas in the north, desert
interiors, and the high Atlas Mountain ranges with their
interior plateaus
 Algeria and Libya have 80% of territory in the desert
 northern parts of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia
dominated by Atlas Mountains
 Algeria
and Libya are major oil and gas producers
 Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia mine and export
phosphate for fertilizer
 Algeria is one of the most prosperous countries in the
African continent, but has a tumultuous recent history
 bloody war of independence with France until 1962
 experienced democratic and military rule
 curtailment of elections by the army in 1992 led to a
civil war with the dispossessed Islamic militants
 terrorist
activity is now devastating Algeria's economy and
people.
 Morocco has political stability under its moderate king,
King Hassan II who gained international Muslim
credibility following his mediating role in Arab issues and
the construction of a massive new mosque in Casablanca.
 Tunisia is modernizing under democratic rule. President
Bourguiba replaced by Ben Ali in 1987
 Libya remains under the strong direction of Colonel al
Gadhafi who seized power in 1969 and runs the country
as a military republic.
 The former Spanish Sahara was annexed by Morocco in
1976, leading to an internal war with the Polasario Front
– Population and Culture
populations of all the North African countries continue
to grow rapidly,
 lower population growth in Tunisia because of several
governmental policies, i.e. forbidding of polygamy,
minimum age for marriage, and instituting a successful
family planning program.
 Morocco has set up a program to empower women,
including family planning, maternal, and child services.
 despite the reduction of fertility in the most populous
countries, the total population of these five countries
rose from just under 50 million in 1980 to almost 70
million in 1993, and could be over 110 million by A.D.
2025.

 growth
of population in North African countries occurs
in urban areas, which now contain over half the total
population
 largest cities include Algiers (Algeria, nearly 4 million),
Casablanca (Morocco, 3.5 million), Tripoli (Libya,
around 3 million), and Tunis (Tunisia, just over 2
million)
 rapid population growth creates problems for the
education systems and employment prospects
 shortages of skilled labor continue despite the effect of
intensive education programs
 growing university educated group in each country, but
they find few employment opportunities in their home
country.
 problems
of employment led many North Africans to
migrate to France and other European countries
 remittances of money sent home are important additions
to local income.
– Economic Development
 problems
facing North African countries stem from the
type of economy established in colonial times with its
built-in dependence on Europe.
 land appropriation for settlers who farmed commercially
and used irrigation water for intensive farming that was
tied to markets in Europe.
 Manufacturing and oil exploration were not encouraged
 export
crops, such as citrus and olive oil, continue to be
produced on large holdings of over 124 acres
 North African countries still need to import up to half
their food needs
 only Morocco has as much as half of its population still
dependent on agriculture
 Morocco is contesting the management of fishing
grounds off Western Africa with the European Union and,
particularly, Spain. The main fish caught are squid (for
export to Japan), tuna, and hake.
 Morocco continues to export cork from the bark of oak
trees in the northern area of the country.
 Oil and natural gas dominate the economies and exports
of Algeria and Libya.
 Libya,
with its small population, suddenly gained great
riches that were nationalized after an initial phase of
development by multinational oil companies Algeria and
Libya are major world producers with refining and
petrochemical industries
 Pipelines bring the oil and natural gas from interior
locations to coastal ports and refineries (Figure 3.15).
 Manufacturing is growing in all countries and now
contributes 20% (Morocco) to 30% (Algeria) of GDP.
 In Morocco and Tunisia, tourism is a major source of
income, based on their sunshine, coastal locations, historic
and cultural features, shopping opportunities and stable
political environments
 Tunisia has a thriving film industry due to good location
and spectacular scenery (Star Wars/English Patient)
 In
the 1990s, North African countries are attempting to
privatize large sections of their economies
 Tunisia is farther ahead and even has its own sock
exchange; Morocco is following with unparalleled sales of
state holdings
 populations of all the North African countries continue to
grow rapidly,
 despite the reduction of fertility in the most populous
countries, the total population of these five countries rose
from just under 50 million in 1980 to almost 70 million in
1993, and could be over 110 million by AD. 2025.
 growth of population in North African countries occurs in
urban areas, which now contain over half the total
population
Map of Fez, Morocco
Fez, Morocco

Nile Valley-Egypt and Sudan
– flow of water from Nile crucial to Egypt and Sudan
– 1959 Nile Waters Agreement shared water between
Egypt and Sudan with Sudan getting 30% of total
– Egypt largest population of any Arab country with 65
million people
– Egypt has great power and influence in the Arab world,
strategic location with Suez canal
– Sudan the largest country in area but only has half the
population of Egypt and is the poorest country of the
region
– Gamal Abdul Nasser’s coup in 1952, establishment of
socialism and non-alignment in world affairs
– nationalization of Suez canal in 1956, Suez Crisis 1956, SixDay War with Israel in 1967 and turn toward Russia
– Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser stored three times amount of
annual water for agriculture and hydroelectric power
– Egypt’s shift to more pro-West , pro-US and
accommodationist policy vis-à-vis Israel in 1970’s and its
consequences in the Arab World
– Sudan plagued by problems of drought, political instability,
and refugees problems from Ethiopia
– Population
 both
Egypt and Sudan have rapidly expanding
populations
 Egypt making some progress to reduce growth rates
with help of US and UN aid
 progress to reduce fertility may depend on raising the
status of women and some progress being made here
 Cairo’s population expanded to 13 million with huge
transportation, sanitation and housing problems
 Alexandria’s population at 4 million
 Khartoum, capital of Sudan has 2.5 million and
population is growing faster than the government can
provide services
– Economic Development
 Egypt
has moved from economy dominated by cotton
production for export to one emphasizing food
production, i.e.. sugar, rice, vegetables, and fruit
 still not self sufficient in food production, but investment
has boosted production
 Agricultural Reform Act of 1952 designed to limit
landholding; redistribution to peasants
 industrialization potential based on power generated by
the Aswan dam has not fully materialized
 some industrialization based on iron and steel industries,
chemicals, assembly of cars, food processing, tire
manufacturing, etc.
 ecological
problems caused by Aswan Dam- silting,
salinization, schistosomiasis
 double/triple cropping in most areas with irrigation
 cotton, alfalfa, wheat, maize, rice are main crops
 nationalized industries overregulated
 remittances from Egyptian workers in Saudi Arabia and
Gulf benefited the economy in 80’s
 Gulf War in 1991 led to many workers returning home
 end of Cold War may lead to less US aid ($10 billion)
 tourism capable of generating large foreign exchange
earning ($2 billion in 92), but Islamic terrorism since the
1990 has hurt this sector; beach resorts at Sharm elSheikh at southern tip of Sinai popular
 Suez
canal revenues static but not growing much
 incomes from Upper Egypt south of Cairo are about half
the incomes from the Delta to Cairo
 Sudan’s economy very poor with little prospect of
outside help from US or other Western countries
 cotton provided 50% of Sudan’s exports in good times
 civil war, drought, pressures from refugees from
Ethiopia produced difficult conditions in Sudan
 decreasing world prices for cotton and sugar have hurt
both Egyptian and Sudanese economies
 restiveness of Egyptians
Arab Southwest
 Background
– heart of Arab world consists of Arabian
Peninsula and fertile crescent from TigrisEuphrates to the Lebanese coast
– includes countries of Iraq with 23 million
people; Saudi Arabia with 21 million; Syria
with 17 million, Yemen with 18 million, and
Gulf states with a total of 6 million
– center of the Islamic religion and focus of
Muslim pilgrimage at Mecca (Mekkah)
– focus of oil industry on eastern shore of Persian Gulf
– oil-rich countries have built internal infrastructure,
built up military strength, and provided full welfare
services for the population
– cost of Gulf War in 1991 and drop in world oil
prices have had an adverse effect on the economies
of the region
– presence of Israel in midst of Arab heartland has
been thorny political issue
– US foreign policy of unconditional support for Israel
has created problems for the US in the region
 Countries
of Arab Southwest
– Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab
Emirates and Yemen
– Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar
and Oman produce oil but have little water
– Lebanon and Jordan have some water but no oil
– Syria and Iraq have both oil and water
– Yemen has no oil and little water
– some efforts to share oil wealth before Gulf War
in 1991 with poorer states but falling prices and
political conflicts between Arab states has
lessened contributions
– tensions between donor countries (Gulf states)
and debtor nations (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and
Yemen)
– lack of skilled labor has led to massive
importation of foreign workers from Arab world,
Indian subcontinent, Korea, and Philippines
– tension over Tigris-Euphrates between Turkey
and Syria/Iraq
– Sunni majorities in most Gulf countries, but
tensions between Sunnis and Shiites have
complicated relations in the region
– border disputes between Saudi Arabia and Yemen
and between Iraq and Kuwait which led to Gulf War
 Population
– rapid population growth in region
– large population of youths
– life expectancies vary from 65+ years of age in Gulf
to 46 years in Yemen
– migrations still way of life for Bedouins
– high urbanized population in most states
– largest cities include Bagdad, Iraq (4 million);
Amman, Jordan (1.5 million); Beirut, Lebanon
(1.5 million); Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2 million);
Damascus, Syria (5 million); Jeddah, Saudi
Arabia, (1.5 million) Aleppo, Syria (1.5 million)
 Economic
Development
– great contrast between countries with high oil
revenue and countries with no oil
– Persian Gulf countries sitting on huge oil reserves
with relatively small populations
– Iraqi economy virtually destroyed as consequence
of the Gulf War, sanctions prevent exports and
imports though a limited amount of medicine and
food are permitted
– before oil discovery, Gulf states engaged in low
intensity farming where water was available or
nomadic herding where water was scarce
– crops like dates and citrus exported
– crude oil make up 85-90% of exports
– challenge to move to a more diversified
manufacturing base
– Kuwait attempting to restore production of oil
wells, wiped out in Iraqi invasion and setting of
fires by retreating Iraqi soldiers
– Kuwait overseas assets fell from $100 billion to
$35 billion
– new industrial cities of Jubail on Gulf and Yanbu
on Red sea in Saudi Arabia major centers of new
petrochemical plants and manufacturing industries
– gasoline, electricity, water and telephone highly
subsidized
– creation of a new university system in Saudi Arabia
and Gulf states to turn out skilled labor
– Iraq could have been a major leader in the region
but instead chose to make war on Iran and Kuwait,
neglected agricultural resources, and spent huge
sums on military equipment
– economic progress in non-oil producing countries
like Jordan and Yemen very slow
– loss of West Bank to Israel in 1967 hurt Jordanian
economy and led to significant problems with
Palestinian refugees
– Beirut, the Paris of the Middle East, virtually
destroyed in 1975 civil war, now experiencing a
commercial building explosion, money returning
 Saudi Arabia
– Background
 kingdom
divided among various clans in 19th C
 crucial role of Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, founder of modern
Saudi Arabian state
 consolidated tribal and regional units into Saudi
kingdom before discovery of oil
 very poor desert kingdom prior to WW II
 discovery of oil near Dammam in 1938, no large scale
production until after WW II
 oil production developed by ARAMCO (Arabian
American Oil Co) owned by 4 large multinational oil
companies
– Physical Character and Climate
 Saudi Arabia
occupies greater part of Arabian peninsula
 interior is an arid plateau formed on west by steep
mountains that rise from Red Sea
 plateau 2,000-4,000 feet in elevation
 Rub al Khali (Empty Quarter) in southeast part of
country
 Syrian desert extends into northern part of area
 coastal plain along Red Sea
 low-lying area known as Al A’sa along Persian Gulf
where most of the oil can be found
Saudi Arabia: Physical Map
– Climate
 extreme
heat and aridity throughout the country
 winter temperatures between 45 to 70 degrees F
 summer temperatures between 80 to 107 degrees F
 temperatures in desert often reach over 120 degrees F
 precipitation sparse
 Riyadh averages 3.2 inches per year
 Jiddah receives only 2.4 inches per year
 no permanent rivers or lakes
 wadis (watercourses) punctuate the interior
– Population
 population
of Saudi Arabia estimated to be 21 million
 82% of the population composed of Arabs whose
ancestors lived in region for centuries
 13% Yemenis and other Arabs who migrated to Saudi
Arabia in the 50’s in search of jobs
 Nomads are declining percentage of population
 80% of the people live in cities today
 largest cities are Riyadh (2.5 million);
Jeddah (1.6 million; Mecca (1.5 million)
Medina (.5 million) and Dammam (.2 million)
 Industrial centers of Jubail on Persian Gulf and Yanbu
on the Red Sea
– Petroleum
 founded
in 1938 by the Arabian-American Oil Company
(ARAMCO)
 Saudi government acquired controlling interest in
ARAMCO in 1974
 Saudis have 1/4 of known world oil reserves; largest
producer of oil with 3 billion barrels produced each year
 sizable quantities of natural gas
 Trans-Arabian pipeline carries oil from eastern fields
to Sidon in Lebanon; oil facilities at Yanbu on Red Sea;
and from Ras Tanura in Persian Gulf
 considerable influence in OPEC decisions
 future of Iraqi reserves and US policy
– Economic Development
 ambitious
five year development plans calling for $150
billion in investment
 priority to industrial sector, particularly petrochemical
industry, liquefied natural gas, steel and cement plants,
light industry
 build up of defense, social services, education and
training
 agriculture promoted with dairy projects, poultry
raising, irrigated lands from deep wells
 now grow wheat, tomatoes, melons, onions, citrus,
grapes, and other crops
– Political stability
 Saudi Arabian
monarchy and US concerns ability the
stability of ruling family
 security concerns focus on Iraq, Iran, and Israel
 AWAC’s radar planes sold to Saudi Arabia in 1981
over objections of Israelis
 consultative councils to advise King on political reform
 concern about human rights of prisoners
 cruel and unusual punishments (chopping block square)
 terrorist incidents troubling for Saudis and US
 US housing center bombed in 1996, heavy damage
 Saudi concern about American presence
 extremists
incidents during pilgrimage, 270 deaths near
Mecca
 demands for social change slow in coming
 Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) established among
Gulf States to discuss security and economic relations
 good cooperation among sheikdoms of Persian Gulf
 Saudi monarchy guardians of two most Holy Places in
Islam -Mecca and Medina
 strong concern about status of Jerusalem
 special interest in Islamic concerns around the world,
Bosnia, former Soviet Socialist Republics
 King Abdullah, the new Saudi monarch who succeeded
to the throne in 2005
King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud
King Abdullah
 Israel,
Gaza, and West Bank
– Israel is a major political, economic, religious, and
cultural anomaly in the region
– Jewish desire to establish a homeland in Palestine
prior to WWI culminates in a state by 1948
– desire to escape persecutions, pogroms, and poverty
led to creation of the State of Israel; strong US
support in the UN crucial in establishing Israel
– hostility of Palestinian community and surrounding
Arab states leads to 1948 war; 800,000 Palestinian
refugees created by Israeli's refusal to allow
refugees to return to their homes
Growth of
Israel
1917-2001
West Bank Settlements
– Arab refusal to accept existence of the state of Israel
and Israel desire to expand borders for more security
lead to host of wars from 1948 through 1982
– establishment of the PLO in 1964 to advance
Palestinian interests
– crucial issue of Israeli settlements around Jerusalem
and all over West Bank complicate the search for
peace
– significance of water politics (extension of Israeli
power in Lebanon, Golan Height, and West Bank)
designed to obtain scarce supplies of water
– injustice of Israeli policies on West Bank
– concern in Israel about population growth rates
falling except for additions from external
immigration
– today 90% of Israeli population lives in cities with
Tel Aviv/Jaffa the largest concentration of people
– future of Israel dependent upon relations with
Palestinians and relations with Arab neighbors
– heavy defense expenditures, high expectations for
social services, and high levels of US foreign aid
(12 billion in recent times) cannot continue
indefinitely
– Israel needs to trade land for peace, but the present
government appears to want both
– economic development
 Israel
economy similar to those of Mediterranean
Europe
 high ownership of consumer goods and high standard of
living
 government running large budget deficits and depleting
currency reserves
 government needs to speed privatization, streamline
bureaucracy, and lessen controls over the economy
 economic advantage of a very highly trained and skilled
work force
 government attempting to diversify economy with a
thriving agricultural sector and manufacturing sector
 agriculture
on kibbutzim declining, only 5% of work force
in agriculture in Israel
 manufacture of industrial machinery, military equipment,
chemicals, and high tech industries like
telecommunications, electronic printing, diagnostic
imaging systems in medicine and date communications
 service sector also strong with tourism as a major industry
 government desires to break into EU markets and markets
in Arab world
 Palestinians highly educated with good prospects of
development if peace can be established
 huge infrastructure problems in Gaza, most people still
live in refugees camps, unemployment over 50%,
promised aid not delivered
 Palestinian
land being taken for settlements in West Bank
which leads to further hostility
 tensions high on the West Bank
 extremists among Israeli settlers and radical Islamic
militants like Hamas complicated search for peace
 issue of Jerusalem
 Oslo Accords 1992 and their consequences for the
Palestinians.
 cycle of Palestinian terrorism and gross Israeli human
rights violations
 Prime Minister Sharon hard line policies toward PLO,
building wall around occupied territories
 Transfer of Gaza to Palestinian Authority
 Prospects for peace uncertain
Jerusalem
Israel: Physical Map
 Turkey
and Iran
– Similarities
 Turkey
and Iran different from other Arab-language
states of the Middle East
 Arabic replaced by Turkish and Persian languages
 both overwhelming Islamic in religion that Turkey is a
more secular state
 both have large populations over 65 million each
 both powerful forces in the region and have a strategic
locations- Bosporus and Dardanelles in Turkey and
Strait of Hormuz at entrance to the Persian Gulf
 both
share largely mountainous countries along the plate
collision between Arabia and Asia
 both receive precipitation in mountains, much of which
falls as winter snow. Meltwater feeds rivers
 both subject to earthquakes
 both have Kurdish minorities inside country borders
– Differences
 both
are long-time rivals for power and influence in the
region
 Iran’s Muslims belong to Shia group while Turkey’s
Muslims are Sunni
 Iran
ruled by leading family under military control (Shah
of Iran until revolution in 1979 which ushered in rule by
Shiite religious mullahs led by Ayatollah Khomeini
 Turkey became a nationalist secular state under Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk after WW I and later a democratic state
and NATO member
 Turkey has been closely involved with European interest
and support from the US
 major US bases in Turkey, monitoring Soviet ships
through Bosporous
 Iran very hostile to US interest after the 1979 Iranian
revolution
– Population
 Population
of Turkey around 65.9 million (2002) vs.
Iran’s population of 66.2 million (2002)
 Iranian population growing much faster so by year 2025
projections are for 150 million in Iran vs. 100 million in
Turkey
 varied composition of the Iranian population with
50% Persian in Iran, 25% Azeris (Azerbaijan), 10%
Kurds, and others 15%
 Turkish population is 80% Turks and 20% Kurds
 expanding urban populations in Turkey and Iran as
people move from the rural areas to cities
 Tehran,
capital and largest city in Iran with 6 million
people; Meshed (1.5 million); and Isfahan and Tabriz
(1 million each)
 Istanbul, largest city in Turkey with 10 million; Ankara,
the capital of Turkey build in the empty interior of country
now has 3 million people; Izmir (2 million)
– Economic Development
 Iran
and Turkey experienced different types of economic
development based on oil for Iran and water resources for
Turkey
 Iranian oil income used to build urban-industrial state with
a strong military
 Iranian
revolution in 1979 led to isolation in region,
devastating war with Iraq in 80’s, squandering of oil
wealth, and less emphasis on modernization
 Turkey invested heavily in developing water resources for
agriculture and some industrial development
 major advances in mechanization of agriculture in Turkey
with use of fertilizers to increase yields
 increase production of cotton, soybeans, grains, fruits,
vegetables
 20% of exports by value are from agriculture
 mining of chromite, copper and gold add to mineral exports
 steel made on Black Sea coast near coal and steel deposits
 international tourism brings in $1 billion per year
 Iranian
agriculture less sophisticated and less productive
 lack of sufficient investment in agriculture, need for
more irrigation
 Iran imports much of its food
 arid land in south and east of Iran limits agriculture
 oil revenue used to create oil refineries, petrochemical
plants on Gulf coast, iron and steel works at Isfahan
 pipelines distribute oil and gas
 small private sector assembles cars, produces textiles,
leather goods and other light industries
 Contemporary
Issues
– Turkey’s desire to become part of EU
– Conflict between Islam and secularism
– EU concern about militant Islam, democracy
and human rights
– Iranian drive for big power status and
development of a nuclear capability
– Conflict between reformers and traditionalists
Turkey: Physical Map
Anatolian Plateau
Iran: Physical Map
Elburz Mts
Zagros Mts
Iranian Plateau