What role does religion play in Iran's government?
Which government is ruled by an absolute monarchy?
How is Lebanon's democratic system different from Israel's?
For the following countries, identify one significant event - either a conflict or election - that changed the way in which the country was ruled: Iraq; Syria; Turkey.
Identify the form of government for the following countries: Jordan; Kuwait; Qatar; United Arab Emirates
Religion plays a significant role in Iran's government, as the country is ruled by an Islamic Republic where religious leaders have a major influence on political decision making.
Saudi Arabia is ruled by an absolute monarchy where the monarch has complete control over the government.
Lebanon's democratic system differs from Israel's in that Lebanon has a confessional system, where political power is divided among religious groups based on their proportion of the population. In contrast, Israel has a parliamentary system with proportional representation.
In Iraq, the 2003 invasion by the United States and its allies led to the toppling of Saddam Hussein's regime and the establishment of a new democratic government. In Syria, the ongoing civil war, which began in 2011, has led to significant changes in the ruling regime. In Turkey, the 2016 coup attempt and subsequent crackdown by President Erdogan's government have altered the political landscape significantly.
Jordan has a constitutional monarchy, Kuwait is a constitutional emirate, Qatar is an absolute monarchy, and the United Arab Emirates is a federal absolute monarchy.