The World Since 1945, Essay Example

First, Daniel Brower states: “The continued importance of religious issues marked the Middle East more than any other part of the postwar world.” What does he mean by that? Elaborate.

Brower (2004) is suggesting that in some areas of the Middle East religious belief dominates all aspects of social, cultural and political life. Unlike in the West, he argues that a type of religious Puritanism has stifled secular and cultural change (2004).

Second, discuss the origin of the Sunni-Shiite split in Islam. How has this split affected Middle Eastern history, in particular, the Iraqi-Iranian conflict that led to the Eight-Year War (1980-88)?

The split between Sunni’s and Shiite occurred after the Prophet Muhammad died in 632. Each group disagreed over who should lead the faithful (Hauss, 2009). Sunni’s believed that anybody of sufficient merit could lead, while Shiite’s maintained that a caste from within the Prophet’s family only must lead the faithful (Hauss 2009). While the Sunni’s came to dominate Islam, in the years that followed the schism between Sunni and Shiite remained alive and is vigorously contested even today. Indeed, the Iran-Iraq war was caused mainly by simmering discontent between Sunni Iraq and Shiite Iran (Hauss 2009).

Third, Islam is predominant in at least 43 nation-states. How does Islam differ in states like Egypt and Indonesia from more fundamentalist states like Saudi Arabia and Iran?

Islam, like Christianity, is divided along fundamentalist and moderate lines. In Egypt and Indonesia a more secular version of Islam dominated after 1945 (Azra, 2004). Unlike more radical forms of Islam, like Wahhabism which is practiced in Saudi Arabia, nation states like Indonesia embraced western secular capitalism rather than religious fundamentalism (Azra, 2004). Ironically, how Islam is, or was, practiced has had less of an impact in international affairs for countries like Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. The Unites States, for example, has had reason to both love and dislike the various Indonesian regimes; reasons which have had little to do with religious faith. Likewise the Unites States has a good relationship with Saudi Arabia, yet poor relations with Iran. Islamic fundamentalism alone is no dictator of how countries may or may not interact successfully.

Fourth, If you were asked by the CEO of a United States company to set up a branch office in an Islamic country, staffed by both locals and Americans, what considerations and adaptations would be required.

Any US company setting up business in Saudi Arabia must be prepared to adapt to local customs and conform to indigenous religious practices. For example, there is a strict alcohol ban in effect in Saudi and female employees of American firms are expected to regulate their behaviour along strict local standards (Long 2004). Questions of honor and dishonor are also important. As David Long argues, some in the West have found it difficult to see deals fall through because one of their agents has broken some mysterious yet important rule of honor (2004).

References

Azra, Azyumardi (2004) Indonesia, Islam, and democracy: dynamics in a global context, Jakarta, Solstice.

Brower, J. David (2009), The World since 1945: a brief history, NJ, Prentice Hall.

Hauss, Charles (2009), Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges, CA, Cenage Publishing.

Long, David E (2004), Culture and Customs of Saudi Arabia, CT, Greenwood.