Understanding Race and Ethnicity in the Middle East

Race is a social construct without biological basis. The term "Middle East" refers to a geographic region, not a racial category. People from the Middle East encompass a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds, including Arab, Persian, Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian, Assyrian, and many others. They identify with diverse nationalities, languages, religions, and cultures. Assigning a single "race" to this heterogeneous population oversimplifies complex identities and histories.