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