The United States of Arabia?

[corplinx]

In my mind I keep pouring over the problems inherent with a republic in Iraq. Sunni, Shiite, Kurd. Sunni, Shiite, Kurd.

The only way I see a mideast republic working is by expanding it. You have to minimize the extremity of each of the subgroups. Imagine a an EU style confederation or even a Federal Republic composed of Iran, Iraq, and possibly Syria/Lebanon/Jordan/Saudi Arabia: each muslim and geographic group being minimized into homogeny. Could such a thing be the next world superpower?

[Malachi151]

The movement is Pan Arabism, and its been around since the fall of the Ottoman Empire, but the West has intionally thwarted it out of fear of the success of the Arab people.

Also see:

http://www.rationalrevolution.net/forming_more.htm

[CapelDodger]

I agree that this could be a viable arrangement in the "Arab" world, which would exclude the North African states that are commonly described as such. Arab rhetoric does make a big thing of a common Arab culture, so that could be the basis of this Republic. It would include minorities, of course - notably the Kurds - who would need safeguards, but there is plenty of Islamic material about righteous treatment of minorities.

There would be great economic advantages, but it's hard to see this region becoming a superpower. Oil may seem to give them a powerful lever, but the world will wean itself off oil before that lever is very effective. They would also have the counterbalance of Iran-Bactria to the east, and the Turkish Federation to North and North-West. Not to mention threats from Greater Mexico and the South Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

[Malachi151]

Actually the Pan Arabism has traditionally been a secular movement. People focus too much on Isalm, many people in the Middle East want secular government and a secular society, it's just not news over here, probably because most of those people are Marxists.

[corplinx]

The secret of course to safeguarding the minorities would be getting moderate countries to take part in the alliance. Kuwait and Jordan spring to mind. Turkey of course would have a stake since a broader Arab state would mean the kurds would have representation even without a home state. The boundary between southern Turkey and northen Iraq would mean less since those two areas would become represented districts.

[Jon_in_london]

What do all of these have in common?:

1. Easter Bunny
2. Tooth Fairey
3. Arab Unity
4. Father Christmas
5. Atlantis

[CapelDodger]

From Malachi151:
Actually the Pan Arabism has traditionally been a secular movement. People focus too much on Isalm, many people in the Middle East want secular government and a secular society, it's just not news over here, probably because most of those people are Marxists.
Islam is there, though, and it can't be wished away, particularly after the last few decades. And Islamic doctrines can be interpreted in a very positive way if you wish. I seem to be using the word "wish" a lot.

From corplinx:
Turkey of course would have a stake since a broader Arab state would mean the kurds would have representation even without a home state. The boundary between southern Turkey and northen Iraq would mean less since those two areas would become represented districts.
Unnecessary complication. The truth is that the Kurdish area isn't really Arab. If the boundaries of Iraq had been drawn in the aftermath of an Ottoman collapse, without outside interference, it is unlikely the Kurds wouldn't have ended up with their own state. After all, the nationalist Zionists did, and they mostly weren't even on-site at the time. Anyway, things having transpired as they have the Kurds of Iraq are not about to trust the Turks. So leave them, with safeguards, with the Arabs.

Or - and this is ambitious - the West could get profoundly exercised about the opression and general bad times the Kurds have been going through for thousands of years. As a result they could feel duty-bound to create a viable Kurdish state out of parts of Iraq, Turkey and Iran - leaving Syria intact. The Arabs won't be too upset - they are, after all, entering into a new era when all Arabs can unite in watching the Turks and Iranians being pissed on. And the West gains an unfailing ally, hated or unloved by its neighbours, with a military tradition second to none and absolutely dependant on Western support. A sufficiently strong strategic entry point to allow the locals to play their own games.

The locals being the Turkish agglomeration, including Azerbaijan and most of the Caspian, and the Iranian / Afghan / Uzbek agglomeration to the east. That arrangement should see off any "end of history" nonsense.