This article focuses on the ethnic and religious diversity of the region, as well as the problems faced by the countries of the Middle East in recent years. The following research methods were used during the writing of the article: historical-systemic and general scientific (synthesis and analysis). The object of this research is the ethnic and religious relations between the countries of the Middle East. When writing the article, the following tasks were set: 1) to analyze the relations of the countries of the Middle East among themselves at the present stage; 2) analyze the role of historical events of the past in the context of
the current situation in the region; 3) to assess the foreign influence on ethnic and religious factors in relations between the countries of the region; 4) To analyze the essence of the influence of armed groups on the conflictogenicity of the Middle East. The novelty of this work lies in the study of the influence of nationalist and separatist movements, the role of foreign influence on the situation inside the key states of the region, as well as in the analysis of their historical specifics affecting the current situation. The relevance of this work lies in strengthening the conflict potential of the region, especially after the beginning of a new stage of confrontation between Israel and Palestine.
For citation: Ryzhov I.V., Dubinin A.I. Middle Eastern ethnic confessions and the system of regional international relations in the 21st century, Ivanovo State University Bulletin, Series: Humanities, 2025, iss. 2, pp. 123—134.