Globalization's Challenge to Nation-State Sovereignty and Conflicts in the Middle East

Abstract

Globalization, through social media, international organizations, cultural demands, and various political, social, and economic models, challenges traditional nation-state structures that depend on singular cultural identities and well-defined borders. These developments have had a particularly distinct impact on the Middle East compared to the West. Due to historical, social and political differences, these countries have not been able to fully implement the process of becoming a nation-state. Therefore, the lack of stable and inclusive governance has led to them having far deeper problems with globalization than the West. As a result, new demands in Middle Eastern societies are often expressed not through democratic or cultural avenues, but through violence, as the existing nation-states are neither stable and secure, nor democratic. This situation is further complicated by international pressures and interventions leading to sectarian and ethnic divisions, and even conflicts. According to the findings, in the sensitive social environment of the Middle East, such interventions exacerbate long-standing tensions and deepen crises, sometimes resulting in civil wars. For instance, the events in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Lebanon illustrate how the combination of globalization and external interventions have led to irreversible conflicts and polarized societies along identity-based lines.