development of the social, political and economic institutions in west asia
TRANSCRIPT
Development of the social, political and economic institutions in West Asia
Social institutions
• Predominantly Islamic, prominent sects are the Sunnis and Shi’as
• Other faiths, including Christianity and Judaism, are also present
• Greek Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox
Political institutions
• Most have monarchial and republican type of government
• Three of the last six absolute monarchies (Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia)
• One of two strict theocracies (Iran)
List of West Asian States and their Capitals
Country Capital Type of government
Turkey Istanbul Parliamentary republic
Bahrain Manama Constitutional monarchy
Kuwait Kuwait City Constitutional monarchy
Oman Muscat Absolute monarchy
Qatar Doha Absolute monarchy
Saudi Arabia Riyadh Absolute monarchy
United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi Federal Constitutional monarchy
Yemen Sana’a Presidential republic
Armenia Yerevan Presidential republic
Azerbaijan Baku Presidential republic
Georgia Tbilisi Semi-presidential republic
List of West Asian States and their Capitals
Country Capital Type of government
Iraq Baghdad Parliamentary republic
Israel Jerusalem Parliamentary republic
Jordan Amman Constitutional monarchy
Lebanon Beirut Parliamentary republic
Palestine Jerusalem Presidential republic
Syria Damascus Presidential republic
Iran Tehran Islamic republic
Cyprus Nicosia Presidential republic
International relations
• Most countries are with the United Nations, with the primary exception of Palestine.
• Palestine is an observer to the United Nations.
• Arab League
• CIS
• OPEC
• EU
Arab League
• Officially called League of Arab States
• Regional organization of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and West Asia (Middle East)
• Formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945
• Currently has 22 members and 4 observers
• West Asian member states include Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
جامعة الدول العربية
Jāmiʻat ad-Duwal al-ʻArabiyya
Commonwealth of Independent States• Regional organization with former
Soviet Republics as members
• Formed after breakup of Soviet Union
• West Asian former and current member states include Armenia, and Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
Содружество Независимых
Государств (СНГ)SodruzhestvoNezavisimykh
Gosudarstv (SNG)
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries• Intergovernmental organization of
twelve developing, oil-exporting countries
• collectively hold 79% of world crude oil reserves and 44% of the world’s crude oil production
• West Asian member states include Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates
Organization of Islamic Cooperation• International organization consisting of
57 member states
• Has permanent delegation to the United Nations
• West Asian member states include Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Azerbaijan
Economic institutions
• Very diverse economies, from socialist to free market types
• Primarily revolves around crude oil and its refined forms, although tourism and industrial ventures also contribute
• Growth is four times faster than world average
• 3 of the top 10 Asian countries by GDP
• 2 in top 20 world countries by GDP
List of West Asian states by GDP per capita
Rank CountryGDP PerCapita
GDP (PPP)Total ($US B)
1 Qatar $ 121,700 $ 101.2
2 Kuwait $ 54,100 $ 150.2
3 United Arab Emirates $ 42,000 $ 200.4
4 Bahrain $ 38,400 $ 28
5 Israel $ 28,400 $ 205.2
6 Oman $ 23,900 $ 69.43
7 Cyprus $ 21,200 $ 22.85
8 Saudi Arabia $ 20,400 $ 581.3
9 Lebanon $ 13,100 $ 46.03
10 Iran $ 12,900 $ 876
List of West Asian states by GDP per capita
Rank CountryGDP PerCapita
GDP (PPP)Total ($US B)
11 Turkey $ 15,392 $ 1118.6
12 Azerbaijan $ 10,000 $ 74.8
13 Armenia $ 6,400 $ 18.92
14 Egypt $ 6,000 $ 470.4
15 Jordan $ 5,300 $ 33.06
16 Syria $ 4,600 $ 102.5
17 Georgia $ 4,500 $ 20.75
18 Iraq $ 3,600 $ 96.6
19 West Bank $ 2,900 $ N/A
20 Yemen $ 2,500 $ 58.2
21 Gaza Strip $ 2,494 $ N/A