Middle east - Research Paper Example

Middle East and Number Paper Due Middle East The general impression on the Middle Eastern internal politics is that the same is interconnected within religious fundamentalism beyond national interest. This impression is partially correct because religious belief and internal politics are interconnected within the Middle Eastern context. Besides, this results in the growth of notorious fundamentalist/terrorist groups aiming to extend their influence beyond national boundaries. Within this context, the ISIS’s transformation from Al-Qaeda’s branch to the mastermind behind the formation of Islamic State is critical for the world nations because this transformation proves that extremism can swallow national politics. Thesis statement: The ISIS’s (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) transformation into IS (Islamic State) in 2014 affected the international relations of the Middle East by resulting in political and military imbalance in the region and by affiliating IS to the global network of religious terrorist organizations. Transformation: First of all, the crude form of IS (say, the Islamic State) was established in the year 1999, known as Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad. This group was formed in Jordan, under the leadership of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Axel Hunsicker stated that, “Zarqavi and his group helped finance, recruit, transport, and train Sunni Islamic extremists for the Iraqi resistance” (420). Besides, this organization played an important role in creating internal problems in the Middle Eastern context during the time of insurgency in Iraq. One can see that the presence of foreign fighters in this group proves its effectiveness, beyond its decentralized leadership. In the year 2004, this group decided to extend its influence by affiliating itself to international terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda. For instance, the group’s name underwent transformation as Tanẓim Qaʻidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn. One can see that the insurgency in Iraq was not over during 2000s. So, the primary aim of this group was to take an active role in the internal politics of Iraq by taking arms against the coalition forces. Again in the year 2006, this group changed its name into Islamic State of Iraq (ISI). To be specific, this transformation is important because the Mujahedeen leadership decided to co-ordinate different insurgent groups under a single leadership. Besides, the core leadership was in decentralized form to overcome unexpected deaths of important leaders. This allowed the group to spread its influence beyond the borders of Iraq. During this time, the group gained momentum and influenced the adjacent nations of Iraq. At last, the group reorganized under the name Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, in the year 2013. Joshua Ledra stated that, “The insurgent and rebel activities of the breakaway Al-Qaeda group “The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria” (ISIS) have spilled over to Iraq and it is causing havoc and destruction” (301). This proves the real strength of this group to intrude into the internal politics of some nations in the Middle Eastern context. For instance, the border areas of Iraq and Syria became under the direct control of this group. Besides, the leaders began to recruit foreigners in the name of Jihad. Besides, this group played an important role in Syrian Civil War by capturing cities in Syria and establishing their own mode of governance. In the present condition (say, in 2014), this group is known as the Islamic State (IS). This final transformation proves the real aim of this group, i.e. the ultimate aim to form an Islamic Caliphate in the Middle Eastern context. IS’s impact on regional events in the Middle East The gradual transformation of the IS from a less influential Islamist group to the backbone of the so called ‘Islamic Caliphate’ proves its influence among the people in the Middle East. To be specific, this group exploited the political and military vacuum in the Iraqi-Syrian border areas. One can see that the Syrian Civil War weakened the Syrian government and helped the IS to control a number of cities. This was helpful for this group to intrude into the internal politics of Syria. The International Monetary Fund, Middle East and Central Asia Department stated that, “Islamic State (IS) militants consolidated their control over regions in the north and west and the border with Syria” (19). Besides, this group depends upon brutal violence to terrorize the governments in Syria and Iraq. From a different angle of view, the Iraqi invasion in 2000s weakened the governance in Iraq. When the coalition forces withdrew from Iraqi soil, the government became more helpless. Within this scenario, the IS exploited the weaknesses of the Iraqi government and invaded more cities adjacent to the border areas. Now, the IS able to create their own governance in some parts of Iraq and Syria. Earlier, the regional problems did not affect the religious minorities in the Middle Eastern context. But the origin of IS affected the religious minorities in this region because the IS leadership proclaimed that the religious minorities have no role in their so called ‘Islamic State’. To be specific, the IS leadership is of the opinion that religious minority groups like Yezidis must flee or convert themselves into Islam. If not, they must be ready to face the consequences. Besides, the IS started torturing and murdering the religious minorities because they have no role in the newly proclaimed Islamic State. Jay Sekulow stated that, “As ISIS has moved into areas with larger Christian populations, it has continued and even escalated its brutal tactics” (37). From a different angle of view, the IS cunningly exploits the weaknesses of Islam to fulfill their selfish motives. In the present condition, the Yezidis men are undergoing brutal violence and women as either sexually exploited or sold in the market place as slaves. So, one can see that the influence of IS in the Middle Eastern context results in mass migration to the neighboring nations. Similarly, presence of IS in the region escalated the problems between different groups within Islamic belief like Sunnis and Shias. As almost all the Middle Eastern nations face the problem between different groups within Islamic belief, intrusion became an easy task for the IS. To be specific, the initial aim of the IS leadership was to form an exclusive Islamic State within the national boundaries of Iraq, dominated by Sunni population. This priority given to Sunni population creates regional problems because the IS militia attacks the Shia population in the Middle Eastern nations. Besides, the IS leadership is aware of the fact that Sunni-majority nations cannot deny the presence of the IS in the region. To be specific, some Sunni majority nations are under the control of Shia population and the IS tires to transform this problem into civil wars. Besides, the IS claims the formation of an exclusive zone for Muslim population in the Middle Eastern context including Iraq and other nations. So, one can see that the IS’s impact on regional events in the Middle East is critical because the IS leadership knows how to exploit the feelings of the mass. IS’s economic backbone Most of the extremist groups based in the Middle East Asia depend upon revenue for petroleum export as the main source of funding facilities. To be specific, Al-Qaeda receives money from the Middle Eastern nations to terrorize the Western nations in general. Still, the IS leaders decided to go beyond this limited funding facility. Besides, the IS leadership knew that mere religious background cannot help the group to be an influential fraction in the Middle East because Al-Qaeda and other groups are successfully doing the same. So, the best possible way to deal with this problem is to find out an unlimited source of economic support. One can see that the economic backbone of most of the Middle Eastern nations is the revenue from oil trade. Julie Hirschfeld Davis stated that, “The Sunni militants, considered the world’s richest and most financially sophisticated terrorist group, control about a dozen oil fields in Iraq and Syria” (B1). So, the IS leadership decided to take control of the oil trade in the captured regions in Syria and Iraq. This was a crucial decision because now the IS controls a number of oil wells in the Middle East Asia, especially in Iraq. Similarly, donation from other nations is an important source of revenue for the IS. For instance, the IS leadership’s decision to declare a separate Islamic Caliphate is helpful to claim the authority over the Muslims living in different nations. On the other side, other terrorist groups lost their importance because those groups never represent the Muslims as a whole. To be specific, extremist groups like Al-Qaeda try to intimidate the Western nations by plotting unexpected suicide attacks and bomb blasts. But the IS tactics is entirely different because this group possesses a specific geographical area as their own, and is with immense economic back-up. Still, the IS leadership does not deny the importance of donation in extending their influence within the Middle Eastern context. One can see that most of the extremist organizations provide less importance to ethics. Within this scenario, the IS leadership is not so different because they know to procure funds for the smooth functioning of the group. To be specific, the IS decision to rob the important commercial banks within Iraq helped the group to procure enough funds for their future plans. For instance, the Central Bank (say, in Iraq) was robbed by the IS members. Nordland and Rubin stated that, “The insurgents seized as much as $400 million from the central bank in Mosul, said Atheel Nujaifi, the governor of Nineveh Province, and reportedly emptied the vaults in all the other banks in a city of more than one million residents”(A1). Besides, the IS members robbed other valuable items like golden bars to protect their group from economic problems. This is not an odd incident in the areas under the direct control of the IS because most banks are robbed by this group. One can see that this wealth will be used to buy arms and to recruit more Jihadists to the group. In short, it is evident that the IS leadership knows that temporary economic support in the form of donations cannot help the group to survive. So, they decided to rob banks and to take control of the oil wells and the same proved to be effective within the Middle Eastern context. The IS and the international relations of the Middle East The origin of the IS’s mother organization is interconnected with the change in the Middle Eastern international relations. For instance, the internal insurgencies with the Middle Eastern nations resulted in the constant presence of international peacekeeping forces in the Middle East. Within this context, the ISIS leadership began to extend their influence over the border areas of Syria. The Tehran Bureau correspondent stated that, “Isis violence in Iraq, and its vicious hatred of Shia Muslims, have alarmed Iranians and encouraged many to call for military intervention” (n. pag.). Besides, the ISIS knew that the border areas can be used as a safe haven for training purposes. Still, the internal problems in Syria, especially the Civil War, helped the ISIS to influence the people. To be specific, the ISIS occupied the political and military vacuum space in Syrian society. In addition, the ISIS began to conquer cities and developed their own governance. One can see that this deeply influence the international relations of Syria because the Syrian government felt helplessness while dealing with the militants. Besides, the proclamation of a separate nation named as IS by the ISIS leadership resulted in the deterioration of Syria’s international relations because some areas of Syrian land became under the extremists. One can see that the ISIS influence in Iraq can result in far reaching consequences because the ISIS decides to escalate the problems between Shia and Sunni population. When the peacekeeping forces decided to withdraw from Iraq, the ISIS decided to attack Iraqi cities. The current situation in Iraq proves that the ISIS is able conquer a number of cities and annexed the same to their proposed Islamic State. Ali Ansari stated that, “In the first place, the rise of Isis in Iraq represents a failure of policy not only for the US but also for Iran” (n. pag.). This sort of double game (say, as a political and military group based upon religious fundamentalism) helped the ISIS to influence the Sunni population in Syria-Iraqi border areas. Now, the ISIS considers itself as the political head of the Islamic State, authorized to conduct military invasions. The massacre of Shia population in the conquered area and the brutal violence against the minorities attracted international attention and stained the international relations of the Middle Eastern nations. For instance, the international organizations blame the Middle Eastern nations for allowing the ISIS to conduct invasions. Still, some Western nations and the UN decided to hinder the ISIS invasion of the cities in Iraq. On the other side, the ISIS is able to influence some of the Muslims in US and European nations. To be specific, the foreign presence among the ISIS members prove that the ISIS ideology is attractive so some believers of Islam in US and European nations. Besides, the ISIS is making use of their dual role (religious and military) to attract the foreigners. For instance, the ISIS leaders proclaimed that it is the responsibility of the global Muslim population to help them to create the Islamic Caliphate in the heart of the Middle East. This proclamation of Jihad to create a separate geographical area for Muslim population is enough to attract more foreigners (say, Muslims) who are interested in Jihad. When more foreigners migrated to the Middle East to participate in the proposed holy war, the Western nations began to suspect the Middle Eastern nations. Within this context, the influence of political Islam is evident because the Middle Eastern nations cannot act against the decisions of the religious elite class. To be specific, religious belief and political affiliation are inseparable in the Middle Eastern context. So, the Middle Eastern nations are helpless in hindering the influence of the ISIS among the people. In short, the formation of IS and the related political and military imbalance stained the international relations of the Middle East nations. The ISIS’s impact on global events The ISIS’s affiliation to the global network of religious terrorist organizations was helpful to procure fund, to recruit foreign extremists, and to control large portion of land in the Middle East Asia in the name of Islamic State. Within this scenario, the ISIS’s success motivates international extremist organization because now they have a centralized authority with political power and military capability to control their global level operations. For instance, the Pakistani fraction of Taliban considers the ISIS’s success as a motivation and ordered the extremists in the region to support them. Besides, the Pakistani fraction of Taliban considers that the ISIS presence in the area is most helpful for the survival of the Islamic State. From a different angle of view, this sort of support can exert unexpected impact on global events like rapid spread of terrorism based upon religious fundamentalism. On the other side, Afghani Taliban knows that the rise of ISIS will affect their popularity and influence among the religious believers in the Middle East. For instance, the proclamation of the IS on the Islamic state is enough for the believers to consider the ISIS as the protectors of Islamic faith. To be specific, no other extremist group is able to declare an exclusive area for the global believers of Islam. Besides, the ISIS motivates the international extremist groups to join the in the Jihad against the governments in the Middle East Asia. But the Afghani Taliban is not in favor of this sort of centralized control. Brian John Heard made clear that, “The now infamous ISIS (or often referred to as ISIL or the Islamic State) has captured and executed its victims on the world stage, seizing the attention of millions around the world and reminding us all of the very real threat of kidnap and violence that exists throughout the region” (22). They know that brutal murder, even in the name of faith, can attract international attention. In addition, the Afghani Taliban knows that the believers will not accept the ISIS deeds beyond the limits of religious rules. Earlier, the ISIS sought support from Al-Qaeda and declared as the fraction of Al-Qaeda operating in Iraq. This was a temporary adjustment because the ISIS leadership knew that the Al-Qaedan control or affiliation cannot help their group to grow as a political and military group. One can see that Al-Qaeda is a decentralized militant group aiming to extend the message of extremism and to support and co-ordinate the operations of different extremist groups. But the ISIS’s aim is different because they decided to combine extremism with politics. One can see that Al-Qaedan leadership was not able to foresee the consequences of ISIS influence among the mass. Michael Glint stated that, “The ISIS group has a foundation that is based on al-Qaeda’s ideology and follows the well-known jihadist principles” (n.pag.). Now, the ISIS is beyond the limits of a traditional extremist organization because this group possesses economic and political support in the Middle East Asia. Besides, the Al-Qaedan role will be limited to the scenario of co-ordination of different extremist organizations. In short, the current events prove that the ISIS is powerful enough to influence the global network of religious terrorist organizations. Summing, internal problems are interconnected with the socio-political scenario of the Middle East Asia. The origin of extremist groups in this area forces the world nations to interfere into the internal politics of the Middle Eastern nations. Now, this extremist organization is transformed into a political group with economic support. Within this scenario, the transformation of the extremist groups like ISIS into political groups aiming to terrorize the world nations is an imminent threat on world peace and peacekeeping organizations. Still, the Middle Eastern nations are helpless because the extremist groups make use of religious belief as a shield to protect them from external agencies. When international organizations try to intervene, the extremist organizations will claim the same as the attack against their religion. In short, the ISIS’s transformation from an extremist group to the mastermind behind the formation of the exclusive geographical area (say, the Islamic State) exerted negative influence upon the Middle Eastern international relations. Similarly, this transformation resulted in the political and military imbalance in the Middle East Asia. In short, the IS is stronger than Al-Qaeda because this extremist group’s operations are unpredictable and is directly affiliated to the global network of religious terrorist groups. Works Cited Ansari, Ali. “Isis has given Iran and the US a rare opportunity for détente.” The Guardian. 17 Jun. 2014: n. pag. Print. Davis, Julie Hirschfeld. “Following the ISIS Money.” New York Times. 22 Oct. 2014: B1. Print. Glint, Michael. Can a War With Isis Be Won? - ISIL/Islamic State/Daesh. N.p.: Conceptual Kings, 2014. Print. Heard, Brian John. Kidnapping and Abduction: Minimizing the Threat and Lessons in Survival. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2014. Print. Hunsicker, Axel. Understanding International Counter Terrorism. Florida: Universal-Publishers, 2006. Print. Ledra, Joshua. The Truth About the Crisis in Iraq. Bloomington: Author House, 2014. Print. Nordland, Rod., and Alissa J. Rubin. “Iraq Insurgents Reaping Wealth as They Advance.” New York Times. 21 Jun. 2014: A1. Print. Sekulow, Jay. Rise of ISIS: A Threat We Cant Ignore. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2014. Print. The International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept. Regional Economic Outlook, Middle East and Central Asia, October 2014. Washington: International Monetary Fund, 2014. Print. Tehran Bureau correspondent. ‘Many Iranians want military to intervene against Isis.” The Guardian. 27 Jun. 2014: n. pag. Print. Read More