Definition
An ethnostate is a political entity that is explicitly organized around the idea of a single ethnic group having dominance or exclusive control over the state’s institutions, culture, and population. The concept suggests that the state’s policies, governance, and identity are aligned with the interests and identity of this particular ethnic group. Ethnostates typically emphasize common ancestry, culture, language, and sometimes religion, to create a homogenous national identity.
The concept of an ethnostate is highly contentious and often debated. Strictly speaking, there are no official ethnostates in the Middle East as most countries have diverse populations with various ethnic and religious groups. However, some countries are often described as having characteristics that align with the idea of an ethnostate due to their strong national or ethnic identities. Here’s a list of countries in the Middle East often associated with a dominant ethnic or national identity:
- Israel: Often described as a Jewish ethnostate due to its establishment as a homeland for the Jewish people and laws such as the Law of Return.
- Armenia: Sometimes included in broader definitions of the Middle East, Armenia is an ethnostate with a strong Armenian ethnic identity and a homogeneous population.
- Turkey: While officially a secular republic, Turkey has a strong Turkish national identity, which has historically marginalized other ethnic groups such as Kurds.
- Iran: Dominated by Persian culture and Shia Islam, though it is home to various ethnic groups like Azeris, Kurds, Arabs, and Baloch.
- Saudi Arabia: The national identity is closely tied to Arab ethnicity and Sunni Islam, specifically the Wahhabi interpretation, though it has diverse regional populations.
It is essential to note that labeling a country as an “ethnostate” can be highly sensitive and may not fully capture the complexities and diverse realities within these nations. Most countries in the Middle East have significant minority populations and varying degrees of integration and acceptance.
Based on the information provided in the search results, here are some countries in the Middle East that could be considered ethno-states to varying degrees:
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Israel - Defined as “the state of the Jewish people” rather than a state of all its citizens. The recently passed Nation-State law declared that “the right to exercise national self-determination in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish people.”[3][8] Critics argue this makes Israel an ethnocracy that privileges its Jewish majority over other ethnic groups.[5]
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Turkey - Has been described as an ethnocracy that pursues policies aimed at excluding, marginalizing or assimilating its minority groups in favor of the dominant Turkish ethnicity.[5] For example, Turkey has referred to its Kurdish minority as “mountain Turks” while denying a distinct Kurdish identity.
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Several Gulf Arab states like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar - Have Arab ethnic character and identity enshrined in their country names and governing structures.[9] However, they also have large migrant worker populations from South Asia and elsewhere that are denied equal rights.[4]
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Iran - While having many ethnic minority groups like Azeris, Kurds, Arabs, and Baluchis, Iran’s national identity is closely tied to the dominant Persian ethnicity.[7] Minority groups have faced systematic discrimination.[7]
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States that emerged from the former Yugoslavia like Serbia and Croatia - Formed as ethnic homelands for Serbs and Croats respectively after the breakup of multi-ethnic Yugoslavia.[12]
However, the degree to which these countries are true “ethno-states” is debatable and exists on a spectrum. Most have ethnic minority populations, even if those groups face discrimination or unequal status compared to the majority ethnicity that the state is identified with. The Middle East’s colonial history and arbitrary borders have also made exclusive ethno-states difficult.[2][4][9]
Citations:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1368966/
[2] https://merip.org/1998/06/democracy-or-ethnocracy/
[3] https://www.brookings.edu/articles/america-must-rethink-its-unique-and-contradictory-advocacy-of-israels-jewishness/
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_groups_in_the_Middle_East
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnocracy
[6] https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Middle_East
[7] https://academic.oup.com/book/6843/chapter-abstract/151042892?login=false&redirectedFrom=fulltext
[8] https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2018/7/22/israel-has-finally-come-out-as-an-ethno-religious-state
[9] https://www.thecairoreview.com/tahrir-forum/narrow-ethno-nationalism-plagues-all-in-the-middle-east/
[10] https://www.reddit.com/r/ezraklein/comments/18r4v26/ethnostates_and_theocracies/
[11] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38578462
[12] https://historum.com/t/list-of-ethno-states.127322/
[13] https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctvr7f5dw
Based on the information provided in the search results, here is a table summarizing the immigration policies of some key Middle Eastern countries:
| Country | Immigration Policy |
|---|---|
| Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE) | - Rely heavily on temporary foreign workers, especially from Asia[1][4] - Policies aim to restrict future migration, reduce dependence on foreign workers, ensure worker protection[4] - Implemented policies more vigorously in recent decades[4] |
| Israel | - Major destination for Jewish immigrants under Law of Return[3] - Over 20% of population are immigrants[6] |
| Turkey | - Historically a major transit country for irregular migration[5] - Recently aligning policies with EU to manage immigration[5] |
| Jordan | - Over 30% of population are immigrants, especially refugees[6] - Policies to attract investment from diaspora and encourage return of citizens[6] |
| Lebanon | - Nearly 32% of population are immigrants, many refugees[6] - Policies to reduce remittance costs and provide preferential treatment to diaspora[6] |
| Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria | - Major emigration countries with 0.1-0.8% immigrant population [6] - Focused on enhancing labor emigration, regulating intermediaries, ensuring worker protection in host countries[4] |
| Syria, Iraq, Yemen | - 1-5.5% immigrant population, many refugees and displaced people[6] - Impacted by conflict and instability |
In general, the GCC states have the most developed immigration policies aimed at managing large temporary foreign worker populations, while other countries like Turkey and the Maghreb are focused on emigration policies and serving as transit points. The Levant has been heavily impacted by refugee flows. Israel is unique in encouraging permanent Jewish immigration. However, specific policies vary considerably by country across the diverse region.
Citations:
[1] https://academic.oup.com/book/26449/chapter-abstract/194867620?redirectedFrom=fulltext
[2] https://mena.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl686/files/documents/srim-2021-english-june-30.pdf
[3] https://cis.org/Report/Immigrants-Middle-East
[4] https://www.gulfresearchmeeting.net/documents/5e84840deb948WS9MigrationPoliciesintheGulf.ContinuityandChange.pdf
[5] https://www.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl486/files/2018-07/RS5.pdf
[6] https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/policy/international_migration_policies_data_booklet.pdf
[7] https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/middle-eastern-and-north-african-immigrants-united-states
[8] https://www.jstor.org/stable/4283889