This unit will focus on the impact of terrorism on the developments in the Middle East and the importance of the acceptance of violence as a means of settling disputes. The history of Western countires in the Middle East is an important factor in understanding how decisions and polices made by Western antions are viewed in the Arab and non-Arab states in the Middle East. Colonialism is an economic as well as political relationship and the sense of being controlled by Westerners is a pervasive view to which many people respond. People still view family relationships as primary in terms of obligations and responsibilities and the demands of the country for a wider allegience do not carry as much weight.
Terrorism provides an identity with meaning.
It enables young men and women to have a sense of self-sacrifice for family, religion, leaders, that is not found elsewhere in society and gives sense of pride. Islam has been undergoing an expansion in membership as it promises to provide a sense of meaning for life in all phases, a locus for dissent from local rulers and an answer to the confusion presented by modern life. It praises frugal living, rejection of costly Wesern lifestyles, and immersion in a non-worldly way of life. Western political and economic systems are seen as having failed when tried in Middle Eastern Moslem countries therefore, Western ideas have become discredited by that failure. Israel is seen as a Western society that has a way of life more similar to Europe than to other Middle Eastern countries and therefore not of the region.