The Peculiarities of Geography: The Middle East

The Middle East is a vast and critical area of the world, a composite of ancient and modern cultures, dis parate races and religions, and uneven historical and natural influences. While in the throes of revolutionary social, eco nomic, and political change, it desperately strives to retain the independence it struggled so long to achieve. To satisfy its drive for self-development and material progress and to realize the full potential of its natural resources, the Middle East is placing primary emphasis upon the development of its human resources. A disproportionate number of Middle Eastern stu dents are enrolled in American colleges and universities and many more attend universities elsewhere, particularly in West ern Europe. Rapid growth has led to unbalanced develop ment with too many specialists and not enough skilled work ers, too many scientists and too few administrators. Many Middle Eastern students educated abroad return home to find no outlet for their technical skills. In the United States, the Middle Eastern student must shed deep-rooted and many- faceted misconceptions of American life, society, and educa tion. Although, with time and care, the majority of them ac complish this and arrive at appraisals of American culture often more accurate than our own, fuller prearrival orientation would do much to hasten the process. The rewards and bene fits of the exchange are real and reciprocal, so much so that the difficulties should not be construed as other than incidental.— Ed.