About the Series

Acknowledgments

Preface

David W. Lesch

Chronology

David W. Lesch

Afghan Mujahideen: Did American assistance to the mujahideen forces fighting against the Soviets in Afghanistan following Moscow's invasion in 1979 serve American interests within the context of the Cold War?

Yes. American aid was instrumental in turning the tide of the war and eventually forcing the Soviets to withdraw from Afghanistan by 1989, contributing in the process to the overall implosion of the Soviet system soon thereafter

Marvin G. Weinbaum

No. American aid was a gross error that created a breeding ground for Islamic radicalism, exemplified by the eventual rise of the Taliban, and, ultimately, international terrorism, with al-Qaida finding safe a haven in Afghanistan to build its transnational terrorist network

Larry P. Goodson

Afghanistan: Was the U.S. attack on Afghanistan a fully warranted response to the events of 11 September 2001?

Yes. The United States needed to respond militarily in order to evict the Taliban from Afghanistan and to disrupt al-Qaida

Marvin G. Weinbaum

No. Military involvement risked a prolonged and costly engagement; diplomatic, financial, and intelligence measures should have been emphasized more in the global war against terrorism

Ali R. Abootalebi

Al-Aqsa Intifada: Is the al-Aqsa intifada (uprising) primarily a reaction to the failure of the peace process?

Yes. The al-Aqsa intifada is a reaction to the failure of the Camp David meetings of July 2000

Glenn E. Robinson

No. The al-Aqsa intifada is primarily an intergenerational struggle for power within the Palestinian movement

Husam Mohamad

Al-Jazeera: Is the satellite television station al-Jazeera a welcome development in the Arab world?

Yes. Al-Jazeera is an independent and professionally run news outlet, signaling the entrance of the information age into the Arab world and establishing a model for other such news outlets in the region to follow

Najib Ghadbian

No. Al-Jazeera is largely a biased news outlet that is undermining stability in the Middle East and contributing to anti-U.S. sentiments

Barbara Roos

American-Iranian Relations: Should the United States attempt to reestablish diplomatic relations with Iran?

Yes. With the strategic situation in the area regarding Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. global war against terrorism, and the rise of moderates to positions of power in Teheran, the timing is right for an improvement in American-Iranian relations

Payam Foroughi

No. Iran is still engaged in activities that are inimical to U.S. interests and regional stability, and it would set a bad precedent to begin a dialogue with Iran before it meets the conditions Washington has set for a resumption of diplomatic relations

Valentina Vantaggio

Arab Business World: Does the Arab world offer viable business opportunities to foreign investors?

Yes. The Arab world can offer many attractive opportunities for foreign investors who possess the requisite knowledge of business practices, contacts, and patience

Bassam al-Kahouaji

No. Because of the endemic corruption, threat of instability, and cultural barriers in the Arab world, conducting business becomes enormously frustrating and ultimately counterproductive for foreign investors

Kate Gillespie

Arab Economic Development: Do Arab countries possess the means for significant economic growth?

Yes. Recent changes in demography, education, labor-force participation rates, infrastructure facilities, government policies, and living conditions will enable the Arab world to grow economically

Onn Winckler

No. Although the Arab world has the natural resources and labor necessary for economic growth, most countries in the region have authoritarian regimes that are overly dependent on oil exports and foreign economic assistance

Ali R. Abootalebi

Arab Leadership: Do the generational shifts in leadership circles in the Arab world offer an opportunity for dramatic political and economic change?

Yes. The generational shifts have created opportunities for several new leaders to slowly break from the ossified political and economic structures of the past

Valentina Vantaggio

No. Although some younger leaders have recently emerged in the Middle East, they are hampered by political and economic interests that are resistant to dramatic change

Jeffrey A. Vandenberg

Arab Maghrib Union: Should the Arab Maghrib Union be revived as an alternative to bilateral agreements between each of the North African states and the European Union?

Yes. A revival of the Arab Maghrib Union would help reduce regional political tensions

Nizar Messari

No. Morocco and Algeria are too engaged in their rivalry to allow the Arab Maghrib Union to work

Michael J. Willis

Civil Society: Is civil society in the Arab world being repressed by authoritarian regimes?

Yes. Civil society in the Arab world has become a last resort for repressed populations rather than a foundation for political development

Ali R. Abootalebi

No. Civil society in Arab states is much more prominent than popularly perceived and in the near future could be a dynamic foundation for the growth of political liberalization

Yahia H. Zoubir

11 September: Can the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 be blamed on U.S. policy?

Yes. U.S. neglect of the Palestinian issue, its hegemonic globalization, and its repressive policies toward Iraq caused the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001

Ali R. Abootalebi

No. The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 can be attributed to Islamic radicalism, inadequate leadership in Muslim countries, jealousy of American prosperity, and the megalomania of Osama bin Laden

Steve A. Yetiv

George W. Bush: Has the Bush administration's foreign policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict contributed directly to the heightened tension in the region?

Yes. The Bush administration deliberately remained aloof from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict upon coming to office, failing to distinguish the Israeli-Palestinian situation from the more general problem of global terrorism after 11 September 2001 and heightened tensions

Mark Rosenblum

No. Considering the prevailing political situation as well as the Israeli and Palestinian leadership, the Bush administration adopted the correct policy before and after 11 September 2001

Robert O. Freedman

Maybe, but the United States has a responsibility to first protect its citizens from terrorism before trying to resolve the dispute between the Israelis and Palestinians

Arthur M. Holst

Globalization: Has the Arab world been left out of the globalization process?

Yes. The Arab world has not developed many of the prerequisites for integration into the globalization process, and therefore it has fallen behind other parts of the developing world

Ahmed H. Ibrahim

No. The Arab world has taken important strides in terms of institutional and technological development for integration into the globalization process

John Parks

Hijab and Islam: Does the rising number of women in the Middle East wearing the hijab since the 1970s indicate an increased religiosity?

Yes. The wearing of the hijab shows a disillusionment with modern secular ideologies such as Nasserism, pan-Arab socialism, and Western-styled capitalism as well as a cultural reidentification with one's Islamic heritage

Katherine Bullock

No. The wearing of the hijab is a sign of fundamentalist/Islamist coercion and social control

Valentine M. Moghadam

Hizbollah: Is Hizbollah a terrorist organization?

Yes. Hizbollah is an organization supported by two states that sponsor terrorism (Syria and Iran); it has kidnapped and killed Westerners since the early 1980s; and it continues to carry out terrorist actions against Israel

Eyal Zisser

No. Hizbollah liberated Lebanon from Israeli occupation and repression, and it has successfully transformed itself into a significant social and political party

Kristian Alexander

Islam and Democracy: Is Islam compatible with democracy?

Yes. Islam and democracy can coexist, as exhibited in Iran where there is popular participation and a balance of power among elites

Ali R. Abootalebi

No. While in certain respects Islam is not incompatible with democracy, political Islam excludes dissenters, women, and non-Muslims from the political process

Anthony T. Chase

Israeli Nuclear Capability: Is Israel's attainment of a nuclear weapons capability and rejection of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty the necessary response to its geostrategic environment?

Yes. Completely surrounded by hostile entities committed to its destruction for most of its history and with a relatively small population and land area, Israel needs the deterrent capability that a nuclear option provides

Gerald M. Steinberg

No. Israeli nuclear weapons capability is an unnecessary provocation that has encouraged the development of weapons of mass destruction in the Arab world

James Ross-Nazzal

Israeli Settlements: Are the Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip legitimate?

Yes. The settlements are legal under the provisions of the League of Nations mandate of 1922

Yitzhak Klein

No. The settlements violate international law, undermine Israeli security, and serve as perhaps the greatest obstacle to an Israeli-Palestinian peace

Jeremy Pressman

Jerusalem: Should Jerusalem serve as the capital of both Israel and an independent Palestinian state?

Yes. Because of its significance to both sides, Jerusalem must serve as a dual capital in order for there to be peace between Israelis and Palestinians

Glenn E. Robinson

No. The Jews have a more legitimate claim to Jerusalem than the Palestinians, and the Israeli government should continue to ensure all believers safe access to their respective sacred sites

Gerald M. Steinberg

Kurds: Should the Kurds have an independent state?

Yes. The Kurds are one of the largest ethnic populations without a state, and an independent Kurdish state can be accomplished without disrupting regional stability

Robert Olson

No. Though the Kurds should enjoy more autonomy in the states within which they reside, an independent state is not only impractical but also ill-advised in terms of regional stability

Michael M. Gunter

Middle East: Is the term Middle East outdated?

Yes. The term Middle East is an outmoded designation based on colonial and Eurocentric perspectives of geography

Katherine Bullock

No. The term Middle East is still a meaningful way to designate an area of the world connected by similar social, political, and religious experiences

Jim Ross-Nazzal

Militant Islam: Does Islam encourage violence against nonbelievers?

Yes. Militant Islam encourages violence against nonbelievers, and in the current socio-economic regional environment, it has found ready recruits

John Parks

No. Islam is not a militant religion; although Muslims may object to certain Western policies, they are tolerant of nonbelievers

Ali R. Abootalebi

Muammar Qadhdhafi: Has Muammar Qadhdhafi served as a beneficent leader of Libya?

Yes. Qadhdhafi has secured an important role for Libya in African and Middle Eastern affairs, and despite UN sanctions he has continued to develop his country economically

Nadav Y. Gablinger

No. Qadhdhafi is an eccentric and dangerous ruler who has consistently sponsored terrorism and has generally been a destabilizing force in the region

John J. Damis

North Africa: Can North Africa be classified as an Arab region?

Yes. Arabs are the majority in North Africa

Ryme Seferdjeli

No. Classifying the region as Arab negates the cultural, social, and political influence of the Berbers

Michael Peyron

OPEC: Has OPEC been a successful cartel?

Yes. OPEC members have been able to act in unison to enrich the cartel's coffers and to maintain its influential role in the oil market

Steve A. Yetiv

No. OPEC is an ineffective cartel because many of its members have traditionally placed economic interests ahead of the organization's stated goals

Byron Augustin

Palestinian Refugees: Should Palestinian refugees be repatriated into the pre-1967 borders of Israel?

Yes. Israel has a legal and moral responsibility to Palestinian refugees regarding repatriation and compensation

Kenneth Hendrickson

No. Israelis will not accept significant repatriation of Palestinian refugees because it would destroy the Jewish character of the State of Israel

Jeremy Pressman

Public Diplomacy: Has the West adequately communicated its ideas and values to the Arab and Muslim world?

Yes. The West has widely communicated its ideas and values, which are admired by many people around the world. The negative image of the United States in the Arabic world may be attributed to its policies and behavior, not to its institutions and ideals

Ali R. Abootalebi

No. The West needs to identify target audiences through research, formulate messages designed specifically for them, and communicate by a wide range of media

Ariel Cohen

Saddam Hussein: Was the United States justified in using military intervention to overthrow Saddam Hussein?

Yes. Whether or not Saddam Hussein was directly connected to al-Qaida terrorists, he was developing weapons of mass destruction and was a threat to U.S. interests in the region

Antonio Donno

No. The United States should have worked with its European and Arab allies in continuing diplomatic efforts to make Iraq abide by United Nations sanctions regarding development and use of weapons of mass destruction

Shak Hanish

Saudi Arabia: Has Saudi Arabia been a positive influence in the Middle East?

Yes. Saudi Arabia has been successful in building up its infrastructure amid relative political stability, and it has been a moderating influence in the region

John Duke Anthony

No. Saudi Arabia has largely squandered its oil wealth and has ignored potentially serious problems in a way that has undermined political stability at the domestic and regional levels

Kristian Alexander

SHAS Party and Islamism: Does the SHAS Party's participation in the Israeli government offer a model for dealing successfully with Islamist parties?

Yes. The SHAS Party has been successfully integrated into the Israeli political spectrum without threatening the secular nature of the state, which is what Arab states need to do with Islamist parties

Nizar Messari

No. The SHAS Party has been a distruptive force in Israeli politics and therefore does not serve as a good example for the Arab states

Sabita Manian

Turkey: Will membership in the European Union cause Turkey to play a more actrive role in the Middle East?

Yes. Turkey will be able to act as an agent of stability and to facilitate cooperation among the Middle East, Central Asia, and the West by providing a moderating influence for radical Islamic groups

Mustafa Kibarouglu

No. Unless the authoritarian regimes of the Middle East and Central Asia become more open to political liberalization, a democratic Turkey with close ties to the European Union will have little impact on regional affairs

Ziya Onis

Water: Will the issue of water rights in the Middle East lead to more conflict in the region?

Yes. As the water supply fails to serve the needs of an increasing population, water rights will become a significant source of conflict in the region

Kenneth Hendrickson

No. Although potentially volatile, the regional water issue can be successfully addressed over the long term; indeed, it can stimulate transnational cooperation

Aysegul Kibaroglu

Western Sahara: Should the Western Sahara become an independent state?

Yes. The Western Sahara should be allowed to hold the referendum on self-determination stipulated by several UN resolutions

Yahia H. Zoubir

No. The Western Sahara should enjoy more autonomy, but it must remain under Moroccan sovereignty in order for there to be stability in the region

Moshe Gershovich

Women: Are women in the Arab world subjected to social, political and economic discrimination?

Yes. Women are severely restricted by cultural and religious mores, and the Arab world will never reach its potential until they are given increased freedom and full participation in all aspects of society

Shak Hanish

No. The role of women in the Arabic world is greatly misunderstood in the West. Their social position is much more complex than is popularly perceived, and they play an important and active part in Middle Eastern society

Katherine Bullock

References

Contributors

Index