May 7 & 8, 2014

Homework - Finish Reading the Modern Middle East notes.

Content Question # 3 - Palestinian - Israeli Conflict - The Israeli writer Amos Oz wrote, "And in this respect, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been a tragedy, a clash between one very powerful, very convincing, very painful claim over this land and another no less powerful, no less convincing claim."  How accurate is this statement?

Content Question # 4 - Arab Spring - The Arab Spring when it first began was often compared to the end of the Cold War in Europe in 1989 when the countries of Eastern Europe moved from communist dictatorships to liberal democracies.  However, since then, as some of the countries have fallen into civil war and others have returned to dictatorship, people have begun to compare them to the Revolts of 1848 in which democratic and nationalist groups only briefly overturned the traditional monarchies of Europe.  Which analogy is better?

May 1, 2014

Homework - In the Modern Middle East Notes read up to the section 'The Palestinian - Israeli Conflict".

Content Question # 2 - The French Revolution, which unleashed the forces of nationalism and democracy that drove conflicts in Europe throughout the nineteenth century, and the Russian Revolution, which unleashed the idea of revolutionary communism that was the cause of global conflict through much of the twentieth century until the end of the Cold War, are considered major "revolutionary' events because of the way they changed the world. Is the Islamic Revolution of similar significance to these other revolutions?  

Important point - In answering this question, you need to cite examples to support your points.  General statements are not sufficient.