a region on the edge

8/7/2019 A region on the edge

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MOROCCOALGERIA

TUNISIA

LIBYA

EGYPT

SAUDI ARABIA

YEMEN

OMAN

U.A.E.

IRAN

QATAR

BAHRAIN

KUWAIT

IRAQ

TURKEY

SYRIA

JORDAN

RedSea

PersianGulf

Black Sea

Mediterranean SeaCaspian

Sea

The source of much of the world's oil, the Middle East has been roiled in recent weeks by a surge of protests against entrenched regimes, most notably

an uprising against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. For the protesters, the argument is for a more democratic government and economic improve-

ment. But for the United States, which has built longstanding relationships with some of these regimes, any change could significantly alter the future

and not necessarily in ways friendly to Washington.

region on the edge

Pop.: 34.6 million

Median age: 27.1

Literacy rate: 69.9%

GDP per capita: $7,400

Unemployment: 9.9%

Corruption rank: 105

Government: Republic

Leader: PresidentAbdelaziz Bouteflika

since 1999

As in neighboringTunisia, Algeria facesgrowing unrest tied toeconomic uncertaintyand a call for demo-cratic reforms. OnThursday the govern-ment announced plans

to lift a nearly 20-year-old state of e mergency.A rally by oppositionforces is planned forFeb. 12.

Algeria

Pop.: 10.6 million

Median age: 29.7



Unemployment: 14%Corruption rank: 59


Leader: FouadMebazaa (interimpresident)

The popular overthrowof longtime PresidentZine El Abidine Ben Alion Jan. 14, sparked byan ailing economy,provided the inspira-tion for uprisings inEgypt, Jordan andelsewhere.

Tunisia

Pop.: 6.5 million

Median age: 24.2



Unemployment: 30%*


Government:Authoritarian state

Leader: Gadhafi,since1969

*In 2004

Because of thegovernments tightcontrol over thepolitical system,opposition groups areweak. But lack ofeconomic opportunityand Libyas locationbetween Tunisia and

Egypt surely haveleader MoammarGadhafi, the longest-serving Arab leader,worried.

Libya

Pop.: 7.4 million

Median age: 29.3



Unemployment: 6.4%

Corruption rank: 30

Government: Parlia-mentary democracy

Leader: Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu

since 2009

While not a part of theArab world, Israel mayhave more at stake inthe outcome of eventsin Egypt than any othercountry. The peacetreaty between the twoformer adversaries hasbrought more thanthree decades ofrelative calm, most of itunder Mubarak. Israeliswonder whetherEgypts next leader will

be as agreeable.

Israel

Pop.: 25.7 million

Median age: 24.9



Unemployment: 10.8%

Corruption rank: 50

Government:Monarchy

Leader: King Abdullahsince 2005

With oil wealth and lowunemployment inurban areas, SaudiArabias economicconditions differ fromEgypts. There is a smallpro-democracymovement, but the

strict religious educa-tion Saudis receivediscourages dissent.

Saudi Arabia

Pop.: 6.4 million

Median age: 21.8



Unemployment: 13.4%

Corruption rank: 50

Government: Consti-tutional monarchy

Leader: Abdullah IIsince 1999

King Abdullah II, leaderof this key U.S. ally inthe region, has alreadyfelt the heat generatedby uprisings in Tunisiaand Egypt. Last weekhe sacked his Cabinetand ordered reforms.

Whether its enough toquell ongoing protestsremains to be seen.

Jordan

Pop.: 22.2 million

Median age: 21.5



Unemployment: 8.3%


Government: Republicunder authoritarianregime

Leader: PresidentBashar Assadsince

2000

High unemploymentand persistent highpoverty have given riseto a protest movementagainst Syriasauthoritarian govern-ment. Demonstrationsplanned for thisweekend will bewatched closely.

Syria

Pop.: 76.9 million

Median age: 26.3

Literacy rate: 77%


Unemployment: 14.6%

Corruption rank: 146Government: Theo-cratic republic

Leader: SupremeLeader Ali Khamenei

since 1989

Widespread protestsfollowing the disputed2009 presidentialelection were met witha severe crackdown bythe countrys rulingclerics.

Iran

Pop.: 23.5 million

Median age: 17.9



Unemployment: 35%



Leader: Saleh,since1990

President Ali AbdullahSaleh announcedWednesday that hewould not run forre-election in 2013 norpass power on to hisson, but that has donelittle to quell protest-

ers seeking his ouster.Yemen, an importantally in U.S. anti-terrorefforts, already faces asecessionist move-ment in the south.

Yemen

Pop.: 12.3 million (combined)

Median age: 23.9-30.8 (range)

Literacy rate:77.9%-94.4% (range)

GDP per capita:$25,800-$145,300 (range)

Unemployment:0.5%-15% (range)

Corruption rank: 19-54 (range)

Like Egypt and Tunisia, these countrieshave repressive political conditions, buttheir considerable wealth and relativelymoderate unemployment make similaruprisings unlikely, analysts say.

(Bahrain,Kuwait, Oman,Qatar, United

Arab Emirates)

SmallerGulfcountries

Pop.: 77.8 million

Median age: 28.1


GDP per capita: $12,300Unemployment: 12.4%

Corruption rank: 56

Government: Republi-can parliamentarydemocracy

Leader: PresidentAbdullah Gulsince 2007

Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan cameout in support ofEgyptian protesterslast week, urgingMubarak to resign.Turkeys economy isgrowing, and it isamong the regionsmost stable countries.

Turkey

Rabat

Algiers Tunis

TripoliCairo

Amman

Damascus

Ankara

BaghdadTehran

Riyadh

Sanaa

Muscat

LEBANON

ISRAEL

WestBank

GazaStrip

Jerusalem

Beirut

Pop.: 4.1 million

Median age: 29.4



Unemployment: n/a



Leader: PresidentMichel Suleimansince

2008

The nations complexinternal politics havelong made for fragilegovernments, as shownagain last month withmilitant groupHezbollahs withdrawalfrom the Cabinet and

the replacement ofPrime Minister SaadHariri. Ethnic andreligious divisions inhibitthe growth of a unifiedreform movement.

Lebanon

Pop.: 4.1 million

Median age: 19.6



Unemployment: 16.5%

A body politic alreadydivided betweenHamas, which controlsthe Gaza Strip, andFatah, which controlsthe West Bank, couldsee fallout from theturmoil in neighboringEgypt. Egypts peacetreaty with Israel andcooperation in theblockade of Gaza areamong key issues to bedetermined.

Palestinianterritories

Pop.: 29.7 million

Median age: 20.6



Unemployment: 15.3%


Government: Parlia-mentary democracy

Leader: Prime MinisterNouri al-Malikisince

2006

Iraqs political profilediffers from those of itsneighbors, many ofwhom share its longhistory of autocraticrule. Its politicaldifficulties in emergingfrom the long shadow

of Saddam Husseincould serve as acautionary tale forother nations attempt-ing to build a demoracy.

Iraq

CORRUPTION RANKINGSNumbers are out of 178 countries. Thehigher the number, the higher the level ofperceived public corruption, as deter-mined by Transparency International, anonpartisan group that fights corruption.

SOURCES: CIA World Factbook; U.S. State Department; Reuters; CNN; Marina Ottaway, director of the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; news reports

Pop.: 31.6 million

Median age: 26.5



Unemployment: 9.8%

Corruption rank: 85

Government: Consti-tutional monarchy

Leader: King Moham-med VIsince 1999

While the economy,income inequality andcorruption areproblems, it is one ofthe regions more opendemocracies, providinga political outlet fordiscontent.

Morocco

By Adam Zoll and Max Rust | TRIBUNE NEWSPAPERS GRAPHICS

Pop.: 80.5 milliom

Median age: 24



Unemployment: 9.7%

Corruption rank: 98


Leader: President HosniMubaraksince 1981

Tunisia may have sparkedthe reform wave reverberat-

ing throughout the region, but it was itsspread to Egypt, the largest and mostculturally important nation in the Arab

world, that has given it magnitude. Thekey ingredients here political oppres-sion, income inequality, high unemploy-ment and a large youth population arefound in many nearby countries.

Egypt

Government:Emirates andmonarchies

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a region on the edge

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