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Chapter 23 Guided Notes Answer Key
Today’s Issues: Southwest Asia
Oil and religion have shaped modern Southwest Asia, but they’ve also brought the
region lasting, often devastating conflicts and challenges.
Section 1: Population Relocation
Economic growth brings foreign workers to the region.
Political factors have shifted the region’s population.
New Industry Requires More Workers
The Oil Boom Changes Economies and Lives
Life in Southwest Asia doesn’t change much from 1100–1900
- some people live in villages, cities; others live nomadic lives
Petroleum, natural gas discovered in early 20th century
- Western oil companies leased land, brought in technology, workers
Oil profits bring wealth to countries, urbanization begins
- road construction makes cities accessible
- thousands migrate to cities for jobs
Foreign Workers
Oil creates so many jobs that local workers can’t fill them all
- oil companies employ “guest workers” from South, East Asia
- mostly unskilled laborers; do jobs native peoples find unacceptable
In some places, immigrant workers outnumber native workers
- 90% of United Arab Emirates’ workers are immigrants
Problems of Guest Workers
Cultural differences exist between guest workers, and employers
- misunderstandings over customs can bring severe penalties
Often, workers live in special districts away from Arab population
- some are abandoned or don’t get wages for months
Concerns over intolerance, violence toward workers
Some fear immigrants weaken countries’ national identities
Political Refugees Face Challenges
Stateless Nation
After WWI, land intended for Kurds was kept by Turkey, Iraq, Syria
Kurds a stateless nation—people without land to legally occupy
Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria try unsuccessfully to absorb Kurds
- Kurds resist governments’ control, are forcibly moved
Iraq forces Kurdish migration, uses chemical weapons on settlements
- In 2000, 70,000 Kurds are displaced, many forced into camps
Palestinian Refugees
Palestinians—Arabs and descendents who lived in Palestine—displaced
- stateless nation; living in relocation camps in Israel, elsewhere
When Israel is created, Palestinian Arabs are promised a homeland
- during Israeli war of 1948, Israel occupies some of those lands
As many as 1 million Palestinians flee Israel, become refugees
- 52 camps in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, West Bank, Gaza Strip
Palestinian Refugees
West Bank—strip of land on west side of Jordan River
- originally controlled by Jordan, but lost to Israel in 1967
Gaza Strip—along Mediterranean Sea northeast of Sinai Peninsula
- occupied by Israel in 1967
Refugees unable to return to Israeli areas they claim
- 8.2 million worldwide by 2005
Their demand to return to Palestine is at heart of many regional conflicts
Section 2: Oil Wealth Fuels Change
Oil wealth brings political and economic changes to the region.
To achieve a diversified economy, countries need to improve infrastructure
and resource use.
Meeting the Global Demand
The Pros and Cons of “Black Gold”
Oil (“black gold”) fuels world industries, transportation, economies
- strategic commodity—important resource nations will fight over
Region has 64% of world’s oil deposits, 34% of natural gas reserves
- by 2020 will provide 50% of world demand
Oil prices rise, fall unpredictably; revenue not assured
- makes steady economic growth difficult; nations need to diversify
Using Oil Wealth to Diversify
Modernizing the Infrastructure
Saudi Arabia builds roads, irrigation networks, agricultural storage
- also, desalinization plants to remove salt from seawater
Other nations build airports, malls, ports
- efforts are not always well planned
- UAE builds four international airports that are underused
Nations have made an effort to build information technology systems
Developing Resources
Nations seek to diversify, develop non-oil resources, agriculture
- governments build dams, dig wells to tap underground reservoirs
Saudi Arabia uses oil profits to improve agriculture, water supplies
- by 1985 it met its demand for dairy, meat, poultry, eggs
- by 1992 it produced enough grain for own needs, some export
Oman revives copper, chromium industries, reduces oil dependence
Human Resources
Human resources—skills and talents of a nation’s people
- nations must invest in people, including women
- must provide education, technology training
- Kuwait has free education through university level
- Kuwait also pays fees, expenses if students study abroad
Many societies have strict rules about women’s roles
- some find it hard to get education or jobs; but shortages create opportunities
Case Study: Religious Conflict Over Land
Who Should Control Jerusalem?
Background
Land conflicts between Jews, Arabs disrupt life in Southwest Asia
Jerusalem is sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims
The issue of control of the city affects the area’s politics, people
Control of Jerusalem
Conflicts Over Holy Sites
After WWII, the UN designated Jerusalem an international city
- intended to be controlled by international body
City is divided in 1948 after the Arab-Israeli war
- Arabs take Old City, East Jerusalem in West Bank
- Israelis control West Jerusalem, then after 1967 capture rest of city
Muslims keep control of Haram ash-Sharif (Temple Mount to Jews)
Israelis settle nearby Arab lands; Palestinian Arabs flee
- UN Resolution 194 supports Palestinians’ “right of return”
Proposed Solutions to the Conflict
A Difficult Problem to Solve
Emotional issue: both sides claim city as their capital; solutions?
Palestinians could retain control of parts of East Jerusalem
Economics in Geography!
 Who determines what is to be produced?
The consumers determine what is to be produced!
 How is production to be organized?
Each market organizes production to maximize efficiency.
 Assembly Line: Created by Henry Ford.
This system maximized efficiency by having specialized jobs.
 JIT: (Just in Time) Created by Toyota in the 1970’s.
This system maximized efficiency by reducing the inventory at auto
plants. With parts arriving when they are needed
 How are goods and services to be distributed?
Goods and services are distributed based on needs and the ability for
those people to compensate for those needs.
 What is the most effective allocation of the factors to be produced (land,
labor, capital, and management)?
It depends!
For example: Land costs money and there are different types of land.
Businesses must purchase or rent land/space to function. This will affect
their location!
Labor: Businesses need employees to perform tasks. Each employee costs
money. Businesses must define each job and responsibility.
Capital is money/currency. Each business must have capital to invest into
their company to start it up. Each company must continue to make money
in order to stay in business.
Management: Most companies have some form of management to
organize their labor force. This organization defines the responsibilities of
its employees.