modern world is conditionally divided into several parts, characterized by some peculiarities.Western and Eastern, European and Arabic cultures have their own geopolitical "binding."Today, the term "Arab countries" refers to the state, the majority of whose population speaks Arabic.
Combining Arab
22 such countries united in an international organization - the League of Arab States.The total area inhabited by people speaking in Arabic, is approximately 13 million km2.This formation is located at the junction of three continents - Asia, Africa and Europe.Thus, the Arab countries represent almost one geocultural space ranges from the Gulf to the Atlantic Ocean, a large part of the population which have Arabic roots.
language and culture
main constitutive element of any Arab state is the language and culture, developing on its basis.Today, this culture is open and exposed to others, such as Indian, Mongolian, Andalusian.However, the most heavily influenced by Western traditions.
Religion
In the Arab community a religion like Islam, performs a dual role.On the one hand, it brings together the Arabs in public and political life, and on the other - is the cause of disputes and even armed conflicts between supporters of various currents inside.It should be understood that the Arab and Muslim countries are not identical concepts.The world is not all Arab states are Muslims, some coexist several religious denominations.In addition, it should be remembered that to the Muslim countries are those where the majority of residents are not the Arabs.
Islam - a powerful cultural factor, thanks to which, together with the language, there is a unity of the Arab world, but it can also divide and lead to bloody wars.
Arab countries
In total there are 23 Arab countries, the list of which is presented below:
- Republic of Djibouti;
- Republic of Algeria;
- Kingdom of Bahrain;
- Kingdom of Jordan;
- Arab Republic of Egypt;
- Republic of Yemen;
- Republic of Iraq;
- Lebanese 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;
- Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara);
- Autonomous Region of Palestine.
It should be noted that not all the Arab countries, which presented a list of recognized other states.Thus, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is not a member of the League of Arab States (LAS), officially recognized only fifty countries.The Moroccan authorities have control over most of its territory.
In addition, the state of Palestine, a member of the Arab League, recognized 129 countries.In this country, the two do not have a common border regions: The Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Arab countries geographically divided into three major groups:
- African (Maghreb);
- gum;
- Eastern Mediterranean.
brief look at each of them.
Arab countries in Africa or the Maghreb
in the strict sense of the Maghreb (the West) are the only States that are located to the west of Egypt.Today, however, generally called as all the North African Arab countries, such as Mauritania, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria.Egypt itself is the center, the heart of the Arab world and is part of the Great magribinskoj arc.Besides him, it includes countries such as Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Mauritania, Libya and Western Sahara.
Countries of the Arabian Peninsula
the largest peninsula on the planet is Arabian.That it is a large part of the oil countries.For example, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), consisting of seven independent states.In addition, it is on its territory there are countries such leading oil producer, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar.In earlier times, the country located in the Arabian Peninsula, appeared only as a transshipment and intermediate points on the trade routes leading to Iraq and Iran.Today, due to open in the middle of the last century, huge oil reserves, each of the Arab countries of the Arabian region has its own important political, strategic and economic weight.
In addition, countries in the Persian Gulf, the historic center of the birth and development of Islam, from where it spread to other regions.
Eastern Mediterranean
To East Mediterranean Asian region, called Mashriq include such Arab countries as the Republic of Iraq, the Kingdom of Jordan, Syria, Libya, and has only the status of Palestinian autonomy.Mashriq - this since the formation in the late forties of the twentieth century, the State of Israel the most restless, almost constantly warring zone of the Arab world.Throughout the twentieth century, there are constantly taking place in Arab-Israeli wars and conflicts.Let us more detail on these countries of the Eastern Mediterranean, Iraq, Jordan and Palestine.
Republic of Iraq
This Arab country located in the valleys of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, in the Mesopotamian plain, and is washed from the southeast waters of the Persian Gulf.Country borders with Kuwait, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.In the north and northeast of Iraq located Armenian and Iranian highlands, which are characterized by high seismic activity.
country Iraq, which is the capital of Baghdad - the second largest Arab country of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East region, with a population of over 16 million people.
revolution in 1958 led to the fall of the monarchy in the country, and since 1963 more and more political power began to gain Arab Baath Socialist Party (ABSP).As a result of the fierce struggle in the sixties of the last century, the party came to power in 1979, led by Saddam Hussein.This event has become a significant milestone in the life of the state.It is this policy was able to eliminate all his rivals and set the totalitarian power.Hussein by liberalizing economic policies and the unity of the nation on the idea of "common enemy", was able to ensure the growth of their own popularity and have virtually unlimited power.
Under his leadership of Iraq in 1980 unleashed a war against Iran that lasted until 1988.The turning point was 2003, when US-led coalition forces have carried out the invasion of Iraq, the result of which was the execution of Saddam Hussein.The consequences of this invasion affected so far.The once powerful country has become a huge battleground, in which there is no developed industry, nor peace.
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
the south-west Asia, north-western end of the Arabian Peninsula, to the west of Iraq and to the south of the Syrian Republic situated Kingdom of Jordan.Map of the country clearly shows that almost all of its territory consists of plateaus and a variety of desert hills and mountains.Jordan shares borders with Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Israel and the Palestinian autonomous region.The country has an outlet to the Red Sea.Amman is the capital of the state.In addition, you can select the major cities - Zarqa and Irbid.
From 1953 to 1999, until his death, King Hussein ruled the country.Today the kingdom headed by his son - Abdullah II, is representative of the Hashemite dynasty and is considered to be in one of the generation of 43 direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.As a rule, the ruler in the Arab world is no limited impact, however, Jordan's monarch's power is regulated by the Constitution and the Parliament.
Today it is the most quiet throughout the territory of the Arab East.The main income of the country brings tourism, as well as helping others, richer Arab states.
Palestine
This autonomous region of the eastern Mediterranean is made up of two non-adjacent to each other regions: Gaza borders with Israel and Egypt, and the West Bank of the Jordan River, which is just to the east in contact with Jordan, and all the rest is surrounded by Israeli territory.In terms of nature of Palestine is divided into several areas: the fertile lowlands along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and the hilly plateau, located to the east.On the east of the country begin steppe, which fades into the Syrian desert.
In 1988, after a number of Arab-Israeli wars and the refusal by Jordan and Egypt claims to the Palestinian territories, the Palestinian National Council announced the creation of an independent state.The first president of autonomy became the legendary Yasser Arafat after his death, in 2005, this post was selected and who is now in power, Mahmoud Abbas.Today in Gaza, Hamas is the ruling party, which came to power after winning elections in this autonomy.In the West Bank manages all state activities the Palestinian National Authority.
Relations between Palestine and Israel are in a state of extreme tension and permanently transformed into an armed confrontation.The borders of a Palestinian state with almost all parties are controlled by the Israeli armed forces.
