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The Middle East is a region of diverse cultures, political systems, economies, historical experiences, and international alliances regardless of the monolithic view of the region from the outside. These differences become real sources of division and conflict within as well as among the nations in the region. The level of economic and social development in the region varies from country to country. The countries have a political geography that is a product of the colonial period, and authoritarian governments that have done little to improve the living standards in the region or develop a just political system. The regimes have tried to isolate their peoples, frame the outside world, and put great pressure on any organized group that has the potential challenge to undermine their position. A number of these countries have some of the most repressive regimes in the world. The uneven distribution of wealth and resources is a major social, political, and economic problem. People in the region want change and began to push for it. However, the Middle East has not been and is not totally isolated. It is part of a global system of markets, media, and migrations. Also, diverse religious, ethnic, and political groups ask for recognition, access to resources, and a fair representation. As a result, things are beginning to change and even more radical changes in social, political, and economic orders are underway in the region.The effects of climate change, such as falling precipitation rates and rising temperatures, may to have dramatic impacts on the life in the Middle East. The region's water scarcity, along with worsening water quality, rising sea levels, and increasing population, could have important negative impacts on agricultural production, health, and the nature. Thus, adaptive measures need to be taken to deal with the overuse of groundwater, alarming water scarcity, and contamination in the region.

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-7353-0_10

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