The Role Of Religion In The Middle Eastern Development

Running head: RELIGION IN THE MIDDLE EASTERN DEVELOPMENT 1

The Role of Religion in the Middle Eastern Development

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RELIGION IN THE MIDDLE EASTERN DEVELOPMENT 2

The Role of Religion in the Middle Eastern Development

Widespread altercation on the plausibility of the role of religion to the development of

Middle Eastern countries exists up to date. There is a popular belief that the political and

economic turmoil in Arabia is caused by conflicts within Islam. However, this cannot be the

truth. The uncertainty in the region is compounded by several religious and social reasons. To

fully appreciate the genesis of these issues, it is important to understand the religious

demography of this region. There are three political and economically significant denominations

in the Middle East: the Muslims, the Jews, and the Christians. Most of the problems that this

region faces stem from the ideologies and interactions between members of these religions. Since

politics and the economy are entirely subject to belief systems, radicalism, which is part and

parcel of Arabia, forms the nucleus of the political and economic fabric. Religion has adversely

affected the political and economic development of the Middle East. Constant hostilities between

opposing factions have borne political instability thereby further hampering the growth of the

economy.

The religious war in Arabia is centered on customary beliefs held by the denominations

in the area. For example, the Jews believe that Arabia is their God-given land, and they should

dominate it. Likewise, the Muslims believe that the land belongs to them and not the Jews. On

the other hand, the Christians believe that the Middle East was the birthplace of Christianity.

They also opine that Christ came to liberate the land of unbelievers. While this school of thought

is inherently peaceful, it has been used, as in the case of the Crusaders, to wage war against those

of a contrary belief. Furthermore, the Christians state that Arabia is their inheritance that the

Jews forfeited when they denied Jesus. This cross-cutting aggression has been the basis of unrest

in the Middle East.

RELIGION IN THE MIDDLE EASTERN DEVELOPMENT 3

For the larger part of this expanse, there is unanimity between politics and religious

doctrine. For example, the Jews believe that any other faith that came after them is second in

hierarchy. Therefore, they consider Arabs subordinate. Historically, these two groups have had

bloody conflicts in which the Jews suffered most. For example, Prophet Muhammad persecuted

and expelled them out of Arabia, and they had to fight and regain their land. It is these past

events that have led to perpetual conflicts between Israel and Palestine.

On the other hand, Muslims and Christians have divergent approaches to governance.

The Muslims favor Sharia law while their counterparts have a liberal approach to authority.

Some Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia have strict laws that attenuate the significance of

women in the society. This is perceived as discriminative and condemned in Christian countries

such as Lebanon (Akyol, 2017). Such sharp contrasts in the ideology of governance form a

cradle for conflict.

Inter-religion differences are not the only way that religion influences politics in the

Middle East. Warring sects within a faith have also sparked up some of the worst battles in this

region. For example, within the Christian faith, the Syrian Orthodox and the Maronites currently

engage in a supremacy battle. This influences the election of the leaders in the region (Tesler,

2002). In addition, the dominance strife between Shia and Sunni Muslims has destabilized most

Arab countries (Lee, 2013).

Religious dogma has been used to solicit and perpetuate autocratic leadership. This

contradicts the nature of democracy. Likewise, most autocracies are ruthless and unrelenting.

Part of this stems from the fact that they feel invincible. Consequently, staunch religious belief

has incubated extremism which has been the cause of major wars in this region. For example, the

RELIGION IN THE MIDDLE EASTERN DEVELOPMENT 4

United States war on Iraq in 2003 was waged on the basis that Saddam Hussein was condoning

and facilitating terrorism (Lee, 2013).

Most Western countries such as the US believe that Islam is gender discriminatory. This

perpetuates hatred between the Americans and the Arabs (Rasheed, 2013). On the other hand, the

Arabs view Americans as non-believers and infidels. This tense situation has brought about a

series of abduction and execution of Americans or anyone sympathetic to the Western belief

system and way of life.

It is important to understand the causes of conflicts that have shaped politics and relations

within and without the borders of Arabia. National and international relations have a heavy

bearing on the economy. Therefore, it is guaranteed that, just as in politics, religion has a tight

grip on the economies of Arab countries.

Until the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia, the region had known very little Western

meddling. However, the oil treaty signed between the country and America opened up the region

to Western interest. Part of the deal was an agreement that the US would set up military bases in

the country. Over the years, more and more Americans are settling in Saudi Arabia and carrying

with them their religion. From a religious perspective, Muslim conservatives view this as an

encroachment into their territory and a consequent bid by the West to spread their religion and

ideologies. Such a perception and stereotypes inform consumer trends in the Arab world. Only a

handful of Western companies have been able to capture the Arab market.

A conservative Islamic society discourages tourism. In most Middle Eastern countries,

women are required to cover their bodies (Rasheed, 2013). As a result, the country discourages

the revealing Western fashion. Due to this, tourists avoid visiting Western and Western-

influenced countries. Furthermore, reports of social spite for Western liberals also create an

RELIGION IN THE MIDDLE EASTERN DEVELOPMENT 5

inhospitable environment to travelers. In extreme cases, Western tourists have been arrested for

offenses that are a part of everyday life in their countries. For example, drinking wine can lead to

jail in Dubai (Nordland, 2017). Such stringent social rules jeopardize the growth of tourism in

this area.

Finally, religion has made the Middle Eastern economy unique in the world. The Sharia

law discourages lending with usury, which has a direct effect on banking in the region. While

some Arabic countries issue permits for international banks to operate within their borders, most

Muslims prefer banking with institutions that follow the Sharia law. This presents unfair

competition to Western investors in the region. On the other hand, consumers shun food from

companies that they deem unclean. For example, Farmer’s Choice has found it difficult to

penetrate the market even with its Halaal class of products. Muslim conservatives are still

apprehensive of their products (Sorenson, 2013). This shows the degree to which religion

influences the economy in Arabia.

In conclusion, it is evident that religion, politics, and economy of the Middle East are

intertwined. Ideological battles between the three major religions in the region have created a

toxic political environment. Furthermore, the tussles within Islam and Christianity in some areas

have destabilized governments. Historical injustices committed by Muslims on Jews still haunt

the relationship between Israel and Palestine. Most of the standoffs in this region are as a result

of hierarchical ideologies. On the part of the economy, conservative beliefs by governments and

citizens of Arabia have botched the growth of tourism in the area. In addition, religious beliefs

also dictate consumer preference, making it hard for Western brands to percolate through the

Arab market. These two aspects of religion have adversely affected the politics and economy of

the Middle East.

RELIGION IN THE MIDDLE EASTERN DEVELOPMENT 6

References

Akyol, M. (2017). Why the Middle East’s Christians are under attack. The New York Times.

Retrieved November 15,2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/26/opinion/why-

the-middle-easts-christians-are-under-attack.html

Lee, R. (2013). Religion and politics in the Middle East: Identity, ideology, institutions, and

attitudes. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

Nordland, R. (2017). Holding hands, drinking wine and other ways to go to jail in Dubai. The

New York Times. Retrieved November 16,2017, from

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/11/world/middleeast/dubai-crimes-united-arab-

emirates-jail.html

Rasheed, M. (2013). A most masculine state. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Sorenson, D. (2015). An introduction to the modern Middle East: History, religion, political

economy, politics. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

Tessler, M. (2002). Islam and democracy in the Middle East: the impact of religious orientations

on attitudes toward democracy in four Arab countries. Comparative Politics, 34(3), 337.

http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/4146957

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