Conflict and Cooperation in Southwest Asia and North Africa

Conflict & Cooperation in Southwest Asia North Africa

By Lon Thrasher

Oil is the most abundant natural resource. Most of the economies are dependent on it.

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​Fossil Fuels are abundant in north Africa and M.E.

​Oil and Water are IMPORTANT

Water is so important because of the climate.

Oil is KING. It is source of much of the economic activity there and many conflicts have arisen over it.​

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​Why would people fight over OIL prices and access?

Managing Resources

​OPEC - Control production and price of oil for countries

​Help each other: COOPERATION

​Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Why do nations form alliances and cooperate?

How is The United Nations similar to OPEC?

How is The United Nations different from OPEC?

Can organization like The United Nations help reduce conflict? Why or why not?​

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Multiple Choice

The United Nations is an example of

• Conflict between nations and societies

• Cooperation between different societies

• Countries going to war with one another

• focusing on economic interests only

Multiple Choice

Why is north Africa and The Middle East (southwest Asia) so good at managing water resources?

• They live in a very dry climate and are dependent on managing water well.

• There is plenty of water and they do not really need to manage it well.

• The climate is tropical and they have to manage flooding.

• They just use the Oasis to help people who live in dry areas.

Multiple Choice

Compared to The United Nations, OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) is more focused on the economic interests of member nations.

• True

• False

• Neither true or false

• I have no idea, because I am not paying attention.

Multiple Choice

What are the two most important natural resources in The Middle East and North Africa?

• Oil and Sand

• Rivers and Deserts

• Dirt and Sand

• Oil and Water

Some conflicts have been over oil and water, but others have been over land, culture, religion and traditions in the region.

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What is the Israeli/Palestinean Conflict?

​Israel and Palestine

Sunni vs Sh​ia

Iran vs Saudi​

Iran vs Iraq

Syria​

Iraq War with USA (twice)​

Israel vs Palestine​

​What are the three major religions in this region?

Religion and Conflict

Multiple Choice

True or False? Religion has been a source of conflict in the region.

• True

• False

• Neither true nor false

• I have no idea

Multiple Choice

Which statement is true?

• Israel was founded as a Jewish State but many Muslims and Christians also live in Israel.

• Israel was one of the first Christian majority societies.

• Israel was formed to give Muslims a chance to have a society that protected them.

• Israel was formed as a Christian society so that Christians could avoid discrimination.

Multiple Choice

Since the formation of Israel, that nation and groups that support Palestine have been fighting over

• oil

• water

• land

• money