Tag: the Middle East

R&D from Prepd: The Middle East

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On June 12, 2021

In International Extemp, R&D

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

As part of the leadup to the 2021 National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament, Extemp Central will be providing daily research & development (R&D) posts for each of the tournament’s fourteen topic areas.  These will include links to important articles about each. It is hoped that these will aid in extempers preparation for this year’s national tournament.

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R&D from Prepd: Russian Involvement in the Middle East

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On April 29, 2015

In R&D

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l_2Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd, the only software built specifically for extemp. Prepd makes it easy to research, practice, and compete!  Visit www.prepd.in to learn more. Like Prepd on Facebook for special info and contests.

This R&D provides resources on Russia’s engagement with the Middle East.  Russia is one of the Middle East’s largest arms suppliers, which dates back to its support of Arab governments during the Cold War.  It recently sold an S-300 missile defense system to Iran, triggering criticism from American and Israeli officials that the sale may prevent an aerial attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.  Russian President Vladimir Putin has also supported Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, thereby challenging American aims for Assad to step down.

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Topic Brief: Syria and Iran as Agents of Change in the Middle East

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On October 15, 2008

In International Extemp, Topic Brief

topicbriefBy Omar Qureshi

The Middle East has long been an area of major misunderstanding for the west. Whether it is the volatile nature of popular will in Iran or the legacy politics in Syria there doesn’t seem to be a clear, general regional trend. The challenge of this understanding has led to many different foreign policy approaches towards the region as a whole. Regardless of whether it has been Clinton’s “aesthetic peace policy” or the much more expansive “Bush Doctrine” of preemptive war, these policies are specifically developed for the Middle East. Moreover, these policies have embraced the 1975 idea of Pax Syriana. This term literally means “Syrian peace,” but international relations theorists have taken it to mean the attempted reshaping of the Middle East to the desires of major actors. Clinton wanted peace- or at least the appearance of peace and George W. Bush wants to develop strategic alliances backed by hard power- a move that has substantially disenfranchised the Middle East on the whole. The preeminent actors in the Middle East today are Syria and Iran.

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Topic Brief: The Middle East (sans Iraq and Iran)

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On September 1, 2007

In International Extemp, Topic Brief

By Michael Garson

With Iraq and Iran dominating the headlines on a daily basis, many extempers insist on using these two countries as templates for a proper understanding of American-Middle East relations. Unfortunately, these two countries are examples of little more than international relations gone horribly, horribly irrational. It is imperative to look at how the entire Muslim world is moving on in light of increased American involvement.

While every tournament will have Iran and Iraq questions, understanding the Middle East on the whole will help not just with these areas, but also benefit your analysis of other countries in particular. Whether it is political pressure in Pakistan or another failure in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, even the slightest of changes in the Middle East gets five-star treatment by major publications and extemp question writers.

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