Module 11: Middle East (summary)

When talking about the Middle East we are talking about a region located in the southwest Asia and Egypt. The Middle East has always been a centre for world affairs throughout history and also nowadays remains as a strategically region in many aspects.

We can find a huge diversity in both religions and cultures. We can find religious groups as Arabs, Turks, Persians, Jews, Kurds, between many others; nevertheless we can say that Muslims are the main group (followed by Christians and Jews).

We will focus our study in Israel. Israel is the main Jew country in the world. Its origins are found in 1947 where the division of Palestine was purposed in order to create a Jewish state. The idea was accepted by Jews by rejected by the Arabs. Israel is considered one of the most developed countries in southwest Asia and we can find important cities such as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

There is a specific and very interesting phenomena occurring in Israel. This is of course, the Kibbutz and its particular management style. Kibbutzes are societies based on mutual aid and social justice and have a socioeconomic system in which people share work and property. The social organization of work is unique in Kibbutz society. It is based on democratic foundations, with equal say for all members on work planning and the division of labour within their agricultural or industrial branch. They don’t use any differential type of retribution for the members, their reward is motivational.

It is important to clarify that the Kibbutz system has evolved along the history to become what we know now. It started as a miracle done in the hostile lands of the desert, and it was built up under some socialist principles. We cannot say that it was part of the former Soviet Union but some of their ideals and goals matched with the ones of the communist power. Nevertheless the systems in the Kibbutz have evolved in an accelerated way becoming in a very efficient capitalist form.

Nowadays we can find differentiation in the Kibbutz, where different members can earn more money and save at their own will. Even if many aspects of this practice have changed, the common ideals shared by its people are still very strong, and we can assure that Kibbutz is a very important source of power (both cultural and economic) for Israel.

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Class presentation

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