Effects/Results

Conflicts in the Middle East have affected the world in many different ways. Western populations have been acclimatized to a type of propaganda and vilification of the Arab and other people of the Middle East, and of Islam in general. This was especially so during the European colonial times, as so vividly examined by Edward Said, in his well-respected book, Orientalism. Cultural stereotyping and racism has occurred in the modern times too (Anup Shah).  In the 1980s and 1990s, war films would show an Arab or Islamic group as the bad guys, sometimes reflecting prevailing turmoil’s at the time. In September 11, 2001 the terrorist attacks on the United States, resulting in “War on Terror”, made the Arabs imagery worse. Countries all over the world view the Middle East as a threat. The Islamic groups are likely to attack and cause conflict with anyone, as a result other countries have tried to go in and establish a government. They also try to create a militarized region that will prevent the rise of future conflicts.