Yemen (Republic of): Section 3 - Analysis

摘要

Created as a new nation-state in May 1990, the Republic of Yemen is the result of an uneasy merger between two Arab countries that were poles apart in political orientation and in cultural aspects. north Yemen was traditionally the more conservative in religious bent, primarily belonging to the Zaydi sect of the Shiite branch of Islam. Although more secular due to the nature of their former socialist government, south Yemenis comprise mainly Sunni followers of the Shafi'i school of Islamic law. The south, home to the port city of Aden, was also more cosmopolitan in nature, as it served as a migratory and trading transit point between Africa, the East Indies and India. The north, by contrast, was seen as more insular, tribal and xenophobic in outlook.