Westernization, Imperialism, Nationalism, and Zionism in the Middle East

1. I think that the cause of the Middle East's dislike of the Western world comes from the way that they were treated in the past. After WWI, Britain and France did not come through on the promises that they made to the Middle Eastern nations. On top of that they stayed and controlled the land, and used their abundance of resources and the power of the Suez Canal to benefit themselves. The Europeans tried to bring their culture into the Middle East, and therefore rid the region of their original cultures. The treatment from the Europeans spurred many in the Middle East to show nationalism for their countries. The nationalism resulted in radical extremists, that are still present today, trying to finish what they started in the past: destroy the power in the Western world.

2. I believe that Imperialism is the cause of the Middle East's hatred towards the West. Westernization alone would not have caused this amount of issues, some nationalist leaders wanted for their nations to Westernize and advance. It is the fact that the Europeans chose to interfere on a greater scale. They were not satisfied wit trading with the Middle East, and spreading ideas, they had to have control over the trade, and resources the Middle East has to offer. By going about it in a way that they tried to make people of the Middle Easy feel inferior by controlling them, they fueled a huge revolt of extremists.