History of Middle Eastern Culture & The Evolution of Terrorism

The Middle East Conflict : Historical , Religious and Cultural Perspectives on Terrorist Act as Unacceptable Behavior

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine the Middle East , its occupations and resulting conflicts in to understand Terrorism its origins and implications to innocent bystanders . This utilized existing literature to construct a brief history of the region while examining the cultural differences between East and West in to understand the mind of a Terrorist . This meant looking to theories found in anthropology , religion , science and psychology while remaining within the framework and

assumption that Terrorism is wrong and an unacceptable behavior . To understand this assumption as true meant comparing and contrasting Eastern and Western ways of life using examples from literature , religion and politics

The Middle East Conflict : Historical , Religious and Cultural Perspectives on Terrorist Act as Unacceptable Behavior

Chapter One : Introduction

Background

The Middle East has been in turmoil since the beginning of time . Due to its location geographically and proximity to immensely valuable resource , not just oil but transportation routes , it has always been an area worth conquering to governments in power . Add differences in religion that has defined the Muslim culture from Western values and the area remains a hot zone of conflict . It should be said at this time this would not explore how there are conflicts at work within subsets of populations in the area . This is will look at how conflicts have persisted due to outside occupations by Western cultures It will look to cultural and religious differences as a means to define the motivations behind terrorist behaviours . It will not discuss internal factions at work to feed the conflict such as Hezbollah in Lebanon . It will not discuss the numerous differing Islamic beliefs found within the religion as a means of fuelling the fire for terror It should also be said at this time that extreme behavior does not only exist for the Middle East , it can be found in any religion , culture or society on Earth . History tells the truth of such extremist movements throughout time . Most recently , we 've seen extreme , mad behavior on the part of such rulers as Hitler in Germany , Pinchot in Chile and the Branch Davidian in Texas . Such behavior is just a fact of life . Those of us brought up with a sense of Judeo Christian right and wrong understand these behaviours to be unacceptable to society . One thing about humanity , there is always a rationale explanation . This aims to address the complexity the Middle East rationale behind terrorism . What makes a person a terrorist ? What drives them to sacrifice his or her life ? God or his or her idea of God , of Allah And as Westerners , how we are so blind to seeing this kind of passion this kind of commitment ? Because it is not ours to bear ? If driven by the same primal , cultural and religious reasons , to fight for American soil for instance , would we not make the...