The Rise of Asia and the Modern Muslim World: Economic Growth, Political Conflicts, and Armed Conflicts

The Rise of Asian Countries

China: The Birth of a Great Power

After Mao Zedong, the People's Republic of China was ruled by Deng Xiaoping (1978-1997). He promoted economic reforms known as "market socialism", which combined communism with some elements of capitalism. His reforms included:

1. Dismantling the communes.
2. Distributing land among the peasants.
3. Allowing peasants to sell their own products.
4. Encouraging the export of cheap products to foreign countries.
5. Opening China to foreign trade and investments.

Xiaoping's successors, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, have followed the same policy. The result has been the spectacular growth of the Chinese GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and its exports. Despite China being one of the greatest powers in the world, social inequality has grown and its political system remains undemocratic. Geopolitically, its main conflicts concern:

• Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory.
• Tibet, conquered by China in 1951, which has fought for independence led by the Dalai Lama.

The New Industrial Countries

South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan are known as the Asian tigers because they have achieved rapid industrial development.

• Since the 1970s: They produced and exported electronic products with competitive prices due to their reduced production costs.
• 1997-98: They suffered from financial instability and competition from other countries in the region.

The Emerging Asian Powers

India has enjoyed sustained growth since 1980 due to its booming service industry, IT sector, car manufacturing, and pharmaceutical industries. However, there are still serious internal and external conflicts due to ethnic and religious tensions, particularly in the province of Kashmir:

• The region's leaders were Hindu, while the majority of the population was Muslim.
• After World War II and liberation from the British, Kashmir could choose to join Pakistan or India.
• The leaders chose India, and conflicts with Pakistan began.

Other Asian countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, are undergoing a process of modernization, which has been helped by the economic profits of their exports.

The Muslim World

The Muslim World refers to countries where Islam is the main faith. It has acquired special strategic importance due to the oil reserves around the Persian Gulf, particularly in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.

Most of these countries have authoritarian governments, which means restricted freedom, economic imbalances, and deep social inequalities. This has led to uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Syria. Dictatorships have been overthrown in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya after traumatic civil wars.

Recent Armed Conflicts

The Gulf War (1990-1991)

• Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.
• An international coalition led by the USA under UN mandate liberated Kuwait.
• An embargo was imposed on Iraqi oil.

The Invasion of Afghanistan (2001)

• A consequence of the attack on New York and Washington on September 11, 2001, organized by Al-Qaeda.
• Al-Qaeda was based in Afghanistan and supported by the Taliban government.
• A coalition of troops from the US and allied countries overthrew the Taliban regime.
• A provisional government was established in its place.

The Invasion of Iraq (2003)

• There was fear that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, posing a threat to world peace.
• The USA, the UK, and other allied countries, including Spain, overthrew Saddam Hussein.
• A new government was established in Iraq.