Transcript Middle-East-Power

WHY IS THE MIDDLE
EAST THE WAY IT IS?
FOUNDATIONS OF THE
MODERN MIDDLE EAST AFTER
WORLD WAR I
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CHARACTERISTICS OF
MODERN MIDDLE EAST
GREAT WEALTH (GULF STATES) OR GREAT
POVERTY
RELIES ON EXPORT OF RESOURCES – Little
manufacturing
UNDEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS
(DICTATORSHIPS OR ONE-PARTY STATES)
“FAILED STATES” and “ROGUE STATES”
RISE OF MILITANT ISLAMIC
FUNDAMENTALISM
CONFLICT AND STRIFE – “HOLY HOT SPOTS”
BORDERS ARE GEOMETRIC, NOT NATURAL
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MODERN MIDDLE EAST TAKES SHAPE
DURING AND AFTER WORLD WAR I
WORLD WAR I – DECLINING
OTTOMAN EMPIRE (“Sick man of
Europe”) SIDES WITH GERMANY
DEFEATS INVASION AT
GALLIPOLI
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MASSACRE OF
CHRISTIAN
ARMENIANS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFiEbJ_2g2s
ARABS REVOLT
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“LAWRENCE OF
ARABIA” – British
agent, helps organize
Arab tribes
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BRITISH PROMISE
ARABS
INDEPENDENCE
After the war
SYKES-PICOT AGREEMENT
Just kidding.
British and French divide
up most Arab lands from
Ottoman empire after the
war.
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TREATY OF SEVRES – 1920
Allies propose to break up the Ottoman empire.
Christian Greece and Armenia get territory,
Kurdistan to be independent.
TREATY OF LAUSANNE - 1923
Oops, jk again!
 Turks under General
Ataturk defeat Greece,
expel Greeks from
Anatolia, and proclaim
republic. New treaty
has to be signed
recognizing Turkish
republic under Ataturk.
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=j
TURKEY MODERNIZES UNDER
ATATURK
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Ataturk’s laws:
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Replaces Arabic alphabet with Western
Bans wearing traditional dress like men’s fez or women’s
headscarves
All marriages must be civil
Army, schools strengthened
Manufacturing introduced
LEGACY: Today, Turkey REALLY REALLY WANTS to
join European Union; is only Muslim country allied to
Israel.
PERSIA BECOMES
INDEPENDENT IRAN
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Iran becomes a Shi’ite nation
under the Safavid dynasty, 15211722. Shi’ite Islam becomes the
state religion, with a formal
hierarchy of clergy.
In 1906, the weak kings are
overthrown and a parliament
(majlis) established.
Oil already discovered in Persian
Gulf.
The kingdom is a pawn of Britain and
Russia through spheres of
influence and extraterritoriality.
THE SHAHS
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Reza Shah Pahlavi
stages a coup in 1921,
strengthens central
authority, begins
modernization, builds
railroads.
Under his son
Mohammed, (right) Iran
becomes an ally of the
U.S. in the Cold War.
A NEW COUNTRY – SAUDI
ARABIA
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A powerful Sheik, Saud
ibn Abdul-Aziz, unites
Bedouin tribes in
alliance with strict
WahhabiMuslims – the
Ikhwan.
Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia is created in
1926.
Oil discovered in 1930s.
US forms alliance
NEW COUNTRY CREATED –
IRAQ – Gertrude Bell’s borders
“MESSPOT”
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British put Iraq
together, partly to
secure oil near Mosul in
north.
Hope to control it with
Indian troops
Lots of revolts and
problems; British
reportedly gas Kurdish
villages
British pull out in 1930,
leaving a monarchy
PALESTINE
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Jewish settlers hoped to establish homeland for their
people in Palestine (Zionism). Bought mostly waste
land from locals under Ottoman law.
By World War I, local Arabs were already beginning
to clash with the settlers, who used only their own
labor.
However, more Arabs were moving in to the territory
because the general economy was improving.
BALFOUR DECLARATION
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BRITISH APPEAR TO
PROMISE ZIONISTS
A FUTURE
HOMELAND IN
PALESTINE AFTER
THE WAR
BID TO ENCOURAGE
AMERICAN JEWS TO
SUPPORT THE WAR
McMAHON AGREEMENT
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Hoping to get the
Arabs’ support against
Turks, British officials
appear to promise them
Palestine also. Woops!
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"Sir Henry McMahon (1862-1949), British High Commissioner in Cairo, negotiated in 1915-16 with Husain Ibn Ali, the
Sherif of Mecca. The British government promised to support his bid for the restoration of the Caliphate (and leadership in
the Arab world)...."
October 24, 1915. I have received your letter of the 29th Shawal, 1333, with much pleasure and your expression of
friendliness and sincerity have given me the greatest satisfaction.
I regret that you should have received from my last letter the impression that I regarded the question of limits and boundaries
with coldness and hesitation; such was not the case, but it appeared to me that the time had not yet come when that question
could be discussed in a conclusive manner.
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I have realised, however, from your last letter that you regard this question as one of vital and urgent importance. I
have, therefore, lost no time in informing the Government of Great Britain of the contents of your letter, and it is with
great pleasure that I communicate to you on their behalf the following statement, which I am confident you will
receive with satisfaction. 
The two districts of Mersina and Alexandretta and portions of Syria lying to the west of the districts of Damascus,
Homs, Hama.and Aleppo cannot be said to be purely Arab, and should be excluded from the limits demanded. With
the above modification, and without prejudice to our existing treaties with Arab chiefs, we accept those limits.
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As for those regions lying within those frontiers wherein Great Britain is free to act without detriment to the interests
of her ally, France, I am empowered in the name of the Government of Great Britain to give the following assurances
and make the following assurances and make the following reply to your letter:
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(1) Subject to the above modifications, Great Britain is prepared to recognise and support the independence of the
Arabs in all the regions within the limits demanded by the Sherif of Mecca.
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(2) Great Britain will guarantee the Holy Places against all external aggression and will recognise their inviolability.
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(3) When the situation admits, Great Britain will give to the Arabs her advice and will assist them to establish what
may appear to be the most suitable forms of government those various territories.
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(4) On the other hand, it is understood that the Arabs have decided to seek the advice and guidance of Great Britain
only, and that such European advisers and officials as may be required for the formation of a sound form of
administration will be British.
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(5) With regard to the vilayets of Bagdad and Basra, the Arabs will recognise that the established position and interests
of Great Britain necessitate special administrative arrangements in order to secure these territories from foreign
aggression to promote the welfare of the local populations and to safeguard our mutual economic interests. I am
convinced that this declaration will assure you beyond all possible doubt of the sympathy of Great Britain towards the
aspirations of her friends the Arabs and will result in a firm and lasting alliance, the immediate results of which will be
the expulsion of the Turks from the Arab countries and the freeing of the Arab peoples from the Turkish yoke, which
for so many years has pressed heavily upon them.
(Signed): A. HENRY MCMAHON.
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