Ask people to think of the Middle East and many people think of war. In some ways this is a stereotype, but in others it’s correct. There are currently at least nine conflicts ongoing across the Middle East.
In recent years, major wars in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Lebanon and Israel and Palestine have drawn the world’s attention to the region. But why are there so many conflicts in the Middle East? What are the reasons why the Middle East seems to always be at war?
1. Authoritarian Regimes
A first reason why there are many conflicts in the Middle East is the prevalence of dictatorial and authoritarian regimes in the region.
Oppressive regimes lack accountability to their populations and deny people the right to choose how they are governed. This often leads to conflict when people turn against the regimes and try too violently over-through them. In many Middle Eastern counties there is no democratic way for people to change their government.
Almost every country in the Middle East has a dictatorial government. Attempts to remove these have led to civil wars. Examples include the Syrian, Libyan and Yemeni Civil Wars.
Across the Middle East and North Africa, out of 19 countries, only two are classified as democracies. The lack of freedom in many Middle East countries is a key driver for conflict, as people take-up arms to change the system of government, seeing little alternative due to the lack of real democracy.
2. Widespread Poverty
A second reason why there are many wars in the Middle East is because of the widespread poverty in the region.
It’s estimated 18.6 million people live in poverty across the Middle East. Poverty is a major driver of wars. When large numbers of people are unable to provide for themselves and their families, or access services from the government, the conditions are often set for violent conflict. A root cause of most wars in the Middle East is poverty.
Poverty in the Middle East has risen significantly over recent years. This is another reason the region sees many wars. In the Middle East and North Africa the number of people living in poverty has doubled in the last five years. This is an important reason for conflicts across the Middle East.
Although there is great wealth in the Middle East, the huge number of people living in destitution is a key factors leading to many wars.
3. Young Demographic
The Middle East has a young population. The average age across the region is only 26. The demographic of the Middle East is another key reason for the amount of conflicts the region sees.
There are many reasons why a younger population can result in more wars. Young people need jobs and opportunities, if these are not available, they are more likely to be pulled towards extremist views. Young people are also less invested in the status-que, making them more likely to join groups intent on changing society. A younger population also means more people of fighting age.
Many observers see the demographics of countries in the Middle East as a major factor for why the region has so many wars. For example, the average age in Iraq is 21, Syria it’s 25, and in Yemen its only 20. All these countries face protracted conflicts and the age of their population is seen as an important reason why.
4. Inequality
Another reason why the Middle East has many wars is because of the widespread inequality across the region.
Parts of the Middle East are fabulously wealthy. Natural resources such as oil and gas, as well as tourism, aviation and finance sectors make some people, and countries, in the region incredibly wealthy. However, the Middle East also has widespread poverty, as we’ve discussed, and millions of people across the region are unable to lift themselves out of destitution.
The Middle East in among the most unequal regions in the world. As well as the difference in wealth between countries, within states the Middle East struggles to address inequality. In almost all countries in the region populations feel unable to access the wealth that is generated. Inequality is a major driver of conflict and an important reason the Middle East has a large number of wars.
There is enormous wealth in the Middle East, however, the region is incredibly unequal. The inequality is the root cause of many Middle Eastern wars.
5. Lack of Opportunities
Unemployment is high in many Middle Eastern countries. This is another reason for why the region has so many wars.
Many countries in the Middle East lack dynamic and inclusive economies. This means they fail to provide good jobs for people. Many people across the Middle East complain of poor work prospects and a lack of opportunities. Across the Middle East – protests, revolts, revolutions and wars have been caused because people feel unable to have a decent standard of living.
Countries such as Libya, Sudan, Tunisia and Iraq have unemployment rates near to 20%. Youth unemployment across the Middle East can rise as high as 40%. A root cause of many conflicts is a lack of opportunity and many Middle Eastern wars result from an inability of the governments to create good jobs.
A widespread lack of quality jobs, especially for young people, can be a major cause of conflicts. This is an important reason the Middle East has many wars.
6. Sectarianism
Ask many people why the Middle East is always at war and they will say the sectarian divides in the region. Although there are many drivers of conflicts in the Middle East, in many ways people are correct.
The Middle East is an incredibly diverse region. Although the majority of the population is Sunni Arab, there are sizable Shia Muslim, Christian, Turkman, Druze and Kurdish communities across the Middle East. In recent years, the region has been plagued by sectarian conflict, especially between Sunni and Shia Muslim communities.
The Iraq-ISIS conflict, First Iraq Civil War, the Syrian Civil War, the Lebanese Civil War and the Yemeni Civil all have their roots in sectarian divisions. Although all these conflicts have other causes as well, the divisions within Middle Eastern society are often seen as a major reason the region has so much armed violence.
Sadly, many political, religious and community leaders across the Middle East use the sectarian divides to stoke conflict and create distrust between communities for their own political gain. This further adds to the rise in conflicts driven by sectarian division across the Middle East.
7. Climate Change
Climate change is increasingly being seen as a major cause of conflict in the Middle East.
The impacts of climate change are being felt in many parts of the Middle East. Across the region, communities are experiencing reduced water supplies, desertification, loss of arable land and extreme temperatures. All are directly caused by climate change.
The major climate breakdown being seen across the Middle East is already causing conflicts. As livelihoods are lost, especially in rural areas, people are pushed into poverty. Urbanisation rises and people often turn to violence as their ways of life are destroyed.
The lesser understood cause of the Syrian Civil War is the destruction of rural livelihoods and a rapid move of people into urban centers. The Darfur conflict in Sudan is also often called the world’s first climate war.
8. Foreign Intervention
A final reason why there are so many wars in the Middle East is foreign interference in the region.
The Middle East has a history of colonialism. First the Ottoman Empire, then European countries, controlled much of the region. The arbitrary borders and community divisions created by this history are a major reason for many modern conflicts.
In modern times, foreign interventions in the Middle East have proved disastrous. American involvement in the Lebanese Civil War, the 2003 invasion of Iraq and Western intervention in the Libyan Civil War all failed to achieve their aims to bring peace to region.
Many critics blame foreign interference in the Middle East for the extent of armed violence there. The extent of interference by foreign powers in the domestic politics of Middle Eastern countries is also seen as a reason why the region has a history of armed conflict.
Although there are multiple reasons for why the Middle East has many wars, it cannot be denied that foreign interventions in the region are one of the major causes.