Conditions of The Middle East Through History

Introduction

As I have read and learned from my class, in the eighteenth century, the Middle East underwent a period that witnessed a fundamental transformation in its economy and society. I have always been intrigued by the fact that although world trade grew at unprecedented rates and the Middle East gained wealth generated by oil, many of the region’s peoples remained below standard for some reasons (Smith, 2020).

Economic Shifts in the Eighteenth Century

Throughout my lectures, I have learned that before World War Two, in the eighteenth century, trading patterns in the Middle East and North Africa changed significantly due to the influence of the Ottoman Empire. In the sixteenth century, the empire was exporting silk and carpets and importing more than it exported to Europe. The Ottomans also traded with Asian countries, importing pharmaceuticals, perfumes, precious stones, spices, indigo, and cloth (Johnson, 2018). The end of the Napoleonic Wars changed the political orientation of European powers, which helped me develop a deeper understanding of why Europe expanded and began seeking new export markets worldwide in search of food, raw materials, markets, and outlets for its energy (Adams, 2019).

The Role of Agriculture and Trade

While substantial investments and improvements were made in some high-value crops, for me, the most notable development was that countries like Egypt began exporting cotton, Lebanon specialized in silk, Tunisia in olive oil and phosphates, Palestine in oranges, and Algeria in wine. On the other hand, Europe exported manufactured products, tea, coffee, and sugar to the region. Between 1830 and 1911, Europe took over financial control of the governments of Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco, realizing that they struggled to repay their large foreign debts (Brown, 2021). I may assume that due to the large foreign debt and other reasons, European powers expanded their control over the Middle East.

Labor Migration and Economic Impacts

Generally speaking, because of the different economies in the world, many people travel for work. I have noticed that the Middle East, in particular, offers numerous opportunities for international workers, which is why many people travel there to work. Many individuals from South Asia migrate to the Middle East for employment. Similarly, North America, particularly the US and Canada, experiences significant labor migration. Many people travel to these countries to work and settle there (Martin, 2019).

There are two types of migrants: legal migrants, who travel legally, and illegal migrants, who travel illegally. For example, many people from Mexico attempt to enter the United States illegally to find jobs. Additionally, numerous African migrants travel to Europe illegally by boarding ships from North Africa. Many people from sub-Saharan Africa migrate to South Africa, and individuals from the Asia-Pacific region attempt to migrate to Australia. Labor migration often results in economic refugees who leave their countries due to poverty, seeking work elsewhere (Harrison, 2020).

Expatriates and Economic Refugees

In the Middle East, there is a significant number of economic refugees, with people from various countries traveling abroad to find job opportunities. Meanwhile, some countries in the region, like those in the GCC, experience an influx of income refugees. In Morocco, the government encourages migration, as it reduces unemployment rates domestically and increases remittances from those working abroad. In my opinion, this is beneficial for reducing unemployment percentages (Williams, 2021).

Changes in Expatriate Demographics

Before 1974, most expatriates in the Gulf region were from other Arab countries, mainly Egypt, Yemen, and Palestine. However, between the mid-1970s and 1980s, the number of Arab migrants began to decline compared to workers from other parts of the world. In the Gulf region, skilled workers from Europe and North America arrived, which is advantageous for developing the country. Unskilled workers primarily came from South Asia and the Asia-Pacific region (Clark, 2020).

I believe there are positives and negatives to migration. For instance, Morocco encourages its citizens to migrate, which increases remittances and reduces domestic unemployment rates. However, a significant downside is the brain drain, where many talented individuals leave the country in search of better opportunities elsewhere (Anderson, 2019).

Food Crises and Economic Challenges

Between 1977 and 1989, food crises existed in the Middle East. These crises occurred when people protested against their governments due to food shortages caused by economic challenges. The crises began in Egypt in 1977, Morocco in 1984, Indonesia at the same time, Sudan in 1985, and Jordan in 1989 (Davis, 2021). As I learned in class, some Middle Eastern countries have high percentages of income allocated to food. For example, Egypt spends 38 percent of its income on food, leaving little for other basic needs. With these labor migrations, expatriates living in the country require certain rights, even in their host countries (Green, 2018).

Expatriate Rights and Residency

In most countries worldwide, expatriates can apply for permanent residency after several years of work and eventually become citizens of their host country. For instance, countries like Canada, the second-largest country by area but with a population of less than 40 million, need migrants to settle and develop the country. This is crucial for countries with the capacity to provide people with a place to live and utilize this opportunity wisely (Lee, 2020).

According to what I have learned in class, one theory behind providing permanent residency is that expatriates, who work and save money, can spend it in the host country, benefiting the local economy. Countries that use this opportunity to develop themselves are indeed smart (Roberts, 2019).

Conclusion

In conclusion, I agree that the Middle East, like other regions, has faced difficulties and crises, along with advantages and disadvantages. However, taken as a whole, the Middle East is in a far better position now (Thompson, 2022).