MIDDLE EAST CRITICISM

About the Middle East:

The Middle East is a vast region having a long history. The Middle East comprises of regions in and around the Gulf of Persia. The two major countries of the Middle East are Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Criticism of the Middle East:

Some critics severely criticize Middle East for what is called as Eurocentrism. Part of it is due to the fact that the term was initially used by the Europeans. Another reason for the criticism is also due to the fact that it is reflective of the geographical position from the point of view of the Europeans. Some also criticize the term for the fact that the word “Middle east” is increasingly used to refer to the Arab world rather than the region in totality. Currently, the word “Middle East” is used by both the Americans and Europeans alike, unlike the term “Mashreq” which is mostly used in Arab languages. Although, the region is to the east from the point of view of Europe, for an Indian, Middle East is to the west of India and for a Russian, Middle East is to the south of Russia. The word “Middle” has caused increased confusion, thanks to its changing definitions. Prior to the First World War, Near East was mainly used to indicate the Ottoman Empire and the Balkans. On the contrary, Middle East was used to refer to the Afghanistan, present day Pakistan, Persia, Kurdistan and countries of the Central Asia and the countries containing the Caucasus Mountains. Countries such as China, Korea and Taiwan alternately refer the Middle Eastern region as “West Asia”. The United Nations has officially named the area as “Southwest Asia”.

Miscellaneous: