a region on the edge
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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
Literacy rate: 74.3%
GDP per capita: $9,500
Unemployment: 14%Corruption rank: 59
Government: Republic
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
Literacy rate: 82.6%
GDP per capita: $13,800
Unemployment: 30%*
Corruption rank: 146
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
Literacy rate: 97.1%
GDP per capita: $29,500
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
Literacy rate: 78.8%
GDP per capita: $24,200
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
Literacy rate: 89.9%
GDP per capita: $5,300
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
Literacy rate: 79.6%
GDP per capita: $4,800
Unemployment: 8.3%
Corruption rank: 127
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%
GDP per capita: $11,200
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
Literacy rate: 50.2%
GDP per capita: $2,600
Unemployment: 35%
Corruption rank: 146
Government: Republic
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
Literacy rate: 87.4%
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
Literacy rate: 87.4%
GDP per capita: $14,200
Unemployment: n/a
Corruption rank: 127
Government: Republic
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
Literacy rate: 92.4%
GDP per capita: $2,900
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
Literacy rate: 74.1%
GDP per capita: $3,600
Unemployment: 15.3%
Corruption rank: 175
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
Literacy rate: 52.3%
GDP per capita: $4,900
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
Literacy rate: 71.4%
GDP per capita: $6,200
Unemployment: 9.7%
Corruption rank: 98
Government: Republic
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
TRIBUNE NEWSPAPERS
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