The modern world is conditionally divided into several parts, characterized by some features. Western and eastern, European and Arab cultures have their own geopolitical “binding”. Today, the term “Arab countries” refers to states whose bulk of the population speaks Arabic.
Association of Arab States
22 such countries are united in an international organization - the League of Arab States. The total area in which the Arabic-speaking population resides is approximately 13 million km
2 . This formation is located in the zone of connection of three continents - Asia, Africa and Europe. Thus, the Arab countries represent an almost unified geocultural space, located from the Persian Gulf to the Atlantic Ocean, the majority of whose population has Arab roots.
Linguistic and cultural features
The main forming element of any Arab state is the language and culture developing on its basis. Today, such a culture is open and exposed to others, such as Indian, Mongolian, Andalusian. However, Western traditions have the most influence.
Religion
In the Arab community, a religion such as Islam plays a dual role. On the one hand, it unites Arabs in public and political life, and on the other, it causes disagreements and even armed conflicts between supporters of various movements within. It should be understood that the Arab and Muslim countries are not identical concepts. In the world, not all Arab states practice Islam; in some, several religious faiths coexist. In addition, it should be remembered that Muslim countries include those where most of the inhabitants are not Arabs.
Islam is a powerful cultural factor, due to which, along with language, there is a rallying of the entire Arab world, but it can also divide and lead to bloody wars.
Arab countries
In total, there are 23 Arab countries, a list of which is presented below:
- Republic of Djibouti;
- Algeria Republic;
- Kingdom of Bahrain;
- Kingdom of Jordan;
- Arab Republic of Egypt;
- The Republic of Yemen;
- Republic of Iraq;
- Lebanon Republic;
- Union of the Comoros;
- State of Kuwait;
- State of Qatar;
- Syrian Arab Republic;
- State of Libya;
- Islamic Republic of Mauritania;
- Kingdom of Morocco;
- United Arab Emirates (UAE) ;
- Oman;
- Saudi Arabia;
- Republic of South Sudan;
- Federal Republic of Somalia;
- Republic of Tunisia
- Sahara Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara);
- Autonomous Region of Palestine.
It should be noted that not all Arab countries whose list is presented are recognized by other states. So, the Sahara Arab Democratic Republic, not a member of the League of Arab States (LAS), is officially recognized by only fifty countries of the world. The Moroccan authorities exercise control over most of its territories.
In addition, the state of Palestine, a member of the Arab League, is recognized by 129 states. This country has two areas that do not have a common border: the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The countries of the Arab world are geographically divided into three large groups:
- African (Maghrib);
- Arabian;
- Eastern Mediterranean.
Briefly consider each of them.
Arab countries of Africa, or Maghrib
In the strict sense, the Maghrib (West) are only those states that are located west of Egypt. However, today it is customary to call it all the North African Arab countries, such as Mauritania, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. Egypt itself is considered the center, the heart of the entire Arab world and is part of the Great Maghreb Arc. In addition to him, it includes countries such as Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Mauritania, Libya and Western Sahara.
Arabian Peninsula
The largest peninsula on our planet is the Arabian. It is where most of the oil-supplying countries are located. For example, the UAE (United Arab Emirates), consisting of seven independent states. In addition, it is on its territory that such countries leading in oil production as Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar are located. In earlier times, countries located on the Arabian Peninsula acted only as trans-shipment and intermediate points on trade routes leading to Iraq and Iran. Today, thanks to the huge oil reserves discovered in the middle of the last century, each of the Arab countries in the Arabian region has its own significant political, strategic and economic weight.
In addition, the countries located in the Persian Gulf are historical centers of the origin and development of Islam, from where it spread to other regions.
Eastern Mediterranean countries
The East Mediterranean Asian region, called Mashrik, includes such countries of the Arab East as the Republic of Iraq, the Kingdom of Jordan, Syria, Libya and having only the status of Palestinian autonomy. Mashrik - since the formation of the state of Israel in the late forties of the twentieth century, the state of Israel has been the most troubled, almost constantly warring zone in the Arab world. Throughout the twentieth century, Arab-Israeli wars and conflicts constantly took place here. Let us dwell in more detail on such states of the Eastern Mediterranean as Iraq, Jordan and Palestine.
Republic of Iraq
This Arab state is located in the valleys of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, in the Mesopotamian lowlands, and is washed from the southeast by the waters of the Persian Gulf. The country borders on Kuwait, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. In the north and northeast of Iraq, the Armenian and Iranian highlands are located, which are distinguished by high seismic activity.
The country of Iraq, the capital of which is Baghdad, is the second largest Arab country in the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East region, with a population of more than 16 million people.
The revolution of 1958 led to the fall of the monarchy in this country, and since 1963, the Arab Socialist Renaissance Party (PASV) began to gain increasing political power. As a result of a fierce struggle in the sixties of the last century, this party came to power in 1979, led by S. Hussein. This event was a significant stage in the life of the state. It was this politician who managed to eliminate all his rivals and establish a regime of totalitarian power. Hussein, through liberalization of economic policy and rallying the nation on the idea of a “common enemy," was able to ensure the growth of his own popularity and gain almost unlimited power.
Under his leadership, Iraq launched a war against Iran in 1980, which lasted until 1988. The turning point was 2003, when US-led coalition forces invaded Iraq, which resulted in the execution of Saddam Hussein. The consequences of this invasion are still having an effect. The once strong country has become a huge arena of hostilities in which there is neither developed industry nor peace.
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
In the south-west of Asia, on the north-western end of the Arabian Peninsula, west of Iraq and south of the Syrian Republic, the Kingdom of Jordan is located. The map of the country clearly shows that almost its entire territory consists of desert plateaus and various hills and mountains. Borders Jordan with Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Israel and the autonomous region of Palestine. The country has access to the Red Sea. The capital of the state is Amman. In addition, one can distinguish large cities - Ez-Zarka and Irbid.
From 1953 to 1999, until his death, the country was ruled by King Hussein. Today, the kingdom is led by his son, Abdullah II, who is a representative of the Hashemite dynasty and, as is commonly believed, in the 43rd generation, one of the direct descendants of the prophet Muhammad. As a rule, the ruler in the Arab countries has unlimited influence, but in Jordan the monarch’s power is regulated by the Constitution and parliament.
Today it is the most calm in all respects the territory of the Arab East. The main income of this country comes from tourism, as well as the help of other, more affluent Arab states.
Palestine
This autonomous region of the eastern Mediterranean consists of two non-neighboring regions: the Gaza Strip, bordering Israel and Egypt, and the West Bank, which is only in the east in contact with Jordan, and is surrounded by Israeli territory on all other sides. Naturally, Palestine is subdivided into several areas: a fertile lowland located along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and a hilly upland located to the east. In the very east of the country, steppes begin, gradually turning into the Syrian desert.
In 1988, after many Arab-Israeli military conflicts and the refusal of Jordan and Egypt to claim Palestinian territories, the Palestinian National Council announced the creation of an independent state. The first president of the autonomy was the legendary Yasser Arafat, after whose death, in 2005, Mahmoud Abbas, who is still in power, was elected to this post. Today, in the Gaza Strip, the ruling party is Hamas, which came to power as a result of the election victory in this autonomy. In the West Bank, the Palestinian National Authority administers all public affairs.
Relations between Palestine and Israel are in an extremely tense state and are permanently turning into armed confrontation. The borders of the Palestinian state are controlled from almost all sides by the Israeli armed forces.