Acting as the crossroads of the globe, the MENA region has always been important politically and has been host to all types of governmental systems, whether they be tribal organizations, theocratic bodies, monarchies, or authoritarian regimes. The political scene of the region today is so complex, yet has been subjected to generalizations about how the state systems there work. Are they all authoritarian-ruled and in complete chaos? Are they all enemies of the Western World? Are they all completely controlled by the powerful force of Islam? As mentioned in "The State in the Middle East and North Africa", the region has not been studied nearly as much as others when it comes to analyzing the ways in which states form and operate, and this has made it harder to truly classify the characteristics and successes/failures of the modern MENA state. The terms "weak" and "strong" states are very relative things: what is weak in one culture or society could be considered strong in another. For example, if we value human rights, healthcare, and educational systems, then the majority of MENA nations today would be considered extremely weak. However, if we consider military organization, revenue from exports (i.e. oil), and the ability to form alliances, then many MENA nations are some of the strongest in the world. So how do we classify this region, which simultaneously sees incredible revenue, global power, and dangerous instability?

For one, we must acknowledge that the MENA region is wholly diverse in political structure and power. It is hard to just say that MENA as a single entity is "strong" or "weak". In world affairs, Iran holds a lot more influence than, say, Lebanon. Syria is run by a dictator and is fighting wars on all sides, while Morocco is a monarchy that is arguably one of the most peaceful MENA states. To me, states like Morocco could be considered strong because they've managed to avoid complete societal disaster in terms of violence. Tunisia could also be considered strong because they have arguably been the most successful state in terms of politics and society after the Arab uprisings of 2011. Libya could be considered weak because they are currently in complete chaos. Syria, Iraq, and Yemen could be considered weak because of extreme instability and the inability of their governments to provide basic care for the people. However, if your definition of a strong or weak state depends on the ability of the state to influence worldwide decision-making, then all countries within MENA would be considered strong. The fact that Iran can influence U.S. and E.U. nuclear decision-making makes it incredibly powerful. The fact that Syria, Iraq, and Libya are home to members of extremist groups that affect global security is very powerful. The fact that Saudi Arabia practically controls the oil market is scarily powerful.

To me, the MENA region can be considered a paradox at times. A state can be extremely strong economically, yet still be one of the worst human rights violators (Saudi Arabia). They can be run by strong authoritarian regimes, but still regress into complete chaos and warfare (Syria). They can hold nuclear programs, but still not be able to provide basic education and healthcare to people (Iran). The diversity of the degrees of power and stability within the region make its political structures hard to define. When every political decision you make has global influence, that should be considered as strong, and most MENA nations have this. But for safety and non-violent progress, many MENA states are extremely weak. It's hard to define because it's so complicated and complex. But thanks to its strategic geography and tribal and colonial pasts, hasn't MENA always been that way?

Definitions of strong and weak, like almost everything else, depend on perspective and experience. Western and Eastern views, Muslim and Jewish backgrounds, and developed and developing nations will all have differing definitions. The debate is constantly evolving and may never end. Today, the MENA region is the center of this debate and will continue to be for quite some time.