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Explain How Israel Became The Only Democracy In The Middle East

2117 Words9 Pages

Ryan Weigel
GOV 1313
May 11, 2016
Final Paper: How Israel Became The Only Democracy in the Middle East.

Whenever one envisions the Middle East presently, images of terror, violence, and poverty are evident. One country that never fails to be in the spotlight of this region is Israel even though it is slightly larger than the state of New Jersey and fairly new since its founding in 1948. How did such a small country develop into the regional democratic power it is today? What sets it apart from the countries that seem to be mired in civil wars and devastation? I believe that the reason Israel is the solid democracy it is today can be due to these factors: Judaic virtues and principles and the geographical location that spurred the influence …show more content…

While many of their policies and choices do not perfectly align with Western democracy, they still exhibit traits that make them one. The countries primary religion is Judaism. Judaic principles are conducive to the development of democracy by promoting the principles of pluralism among the population as well as the ability to self govern. The location of the country is perfect for the West to continue developing their presence in the region hence the reason why Israel is much wealthier in a region that is much poorer. While their location makes them a perfect place for a Western influence to spread, it is also surrounded by nations that are dangerous. Outnumbered, Israel is force to rely on an outside power such as the United States. To make sure that the United States continues supporting them, Israel adheres to many different policies and creates institutions that are similar to the United States. As the country was founded, an influx of Western influenced and highly skilled Jewish immigrants arrived bringing modern technology and principles to a backward nation. This development of a higher skilled workforce paired with the continuous flow of capital from the international community resulted in the modernization of Israel economically and democratically in less than 100 years while many nations surrounding it have yet to achieve such a feat. While Israel has a long road before it is a more advanced democracy, there is no denying that the nation serves as an example of democracy in a region that is void of

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