How have religious and political differences contributed to the conflicts in the middle east?

Answer 1

The question is difficult to answer considering the wars are primarily based on the differences between religions and political groupings. As it stands, the following seem to be the most prevalent different conflicts divided purely (in reality the situations are much more fluid) along these lines. This list is not exhaustive.

Religious Only

Domestic Secular vs. Religious Conflict: Countries such as Israel and Turkey which were founded as secular nations to the exclusion of religion in most civil society are experiencing a backlash from the previously marginalized religious groups. Religious Parties are gaining more political ground and are demanding more religious edicts, more enforcement of religious edicts, and more government support of religious institutions.

Domestic Religious vs. Citizenry Conflict: Countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran have a religiously affiliated government which stifles freedoms commonly associated with Western Nations. They tend to favor one religious group (those of the same type endorsed by the Government) over others and tend to provide secondary if any services to other religious groups. This has made a number of the people desire more democratic and less religious control in government.

Political Only

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Two States are trying to determine where their borders lie and what their right are in the British Mandate of Palestine. This is a case of religiously inflamed, but primarily political problems.

Anti-Iranian Alliance: Much of the Gulf Region is afraid of Iran seeking to expand a Sphere of Influence into the Arab World and therefore a number of Arab regimes have become openly hostile to Iran.

Kurdish Rebellions vs. Turkey, Iraq, and Iran: The Kurds wish to establish a State based on ethnic borders.

Political and Religious

Ethno-religious Tribal Conflict: In numerous Arab countries (most pronounced in Iraq), different tribes jousting for power hide behind ethnic and religious names to give their legitimacy a boost.

Israel vs. Anti-Zionism: Zionism is, by definition, a religious grouping asserting political rights. Contestation of those rights has occurred numerous times in Israeli history and continues to the present day.

Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenia and Azerbaijan disagree over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh for ethnic, religious, and political reasons.

Minority Repression: In a number of Arab countries like Bahrain and Syria, the rulers belong to a minority ethnic group and repress the majority group. This creates a vicious cycle of repression because there is no doubt that they will remain loyal to the government. If the government were to fall, their lives are forfeit.

Repression of Religious Minorities: Non-Moslem minorities (outside of Cyprus, Israel, and Armenia) are often mistreated and denied political and social rights given to the majority.