Week 3

Based on your readings for the week, what were the defining political moments in the Middle East from World War I until the 1960s?  Select at least 2 events that are most interesting to you and discuss why you believe they have had long-term political implications.

5 thoughts on “Week 3

  1. Catherine Gordon

    I think the events and treaties leading up to the formation of the State of Israel, as well as the War of 1948 were events that have had a huge lasting effect on the region. The land of Palestine was promised to different people in three separate treaties: to Husayn to develop an Arab state, to the French in the Sykes-Picot Agreement, and to Jewish settlers in the Balfour Declaration. These conflicting agreements made Palestine a disputed area from the get-go, and when it was officially designated as an area for Zionist immigration, it created intense conflict with Palestinians in the area and with the surrounding Arab states. The Peel Commission and Britain’s rapid withdrawal from Palestine gave the organized Zionists the opportunity to seize control of the region and force Palestinians out of their territory. The War of 1948 continued to fuel animosity and violence between Israel and the surrounding Arab states. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict still remains a central issue in the region.

    Another defining political moment was the Free Officer’s coup and Nasser’s rise to power in Egypt. Nasser’s program of Arab socialism targeting land, industrial, and educational reform and the populist, state-directed economic development program that he put into place became models for much of the Middle East to follow. Egypt’s defeat of Britain, France, and Israel in the Suez crisis increased support for and confidence in Nasser’s programs and caused the Ba’ath Party to demand Syrian unification with Egypt. Egypt’s connection with Syria led to the short-lived United Arab Republic, which had the effect of exporting Egypt’s model for development directly into Syria.

  2. Sydney Fuqua

    With the 1948 War, Israel proved to the world it was not going to be run over. Israel’s ability to hold off six neighbors for six months showed it was more than just a ragtag group of immigrants. It had the viability as a state and the ability to protect that viability. The land gains Israel made were challenged for years. Coming out of the war, the treatment of refugees created its own set of problems that would also continue for years. Not only did the war result in greater standing for Israel, it helped set the stage for military coups in neighboring countries smarting from the military defeat. Even up to the present day, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a point of contention in world politics.

    Other post-WWI events that have had a lasting impact are the creation of Iraq and the fall of its monarchy. King Faisal’s removal by coup led to a string of military coups and regimes resulting in the rise of the Ba’ath Party and Saddam Hussein. Placed over a country made of three individual provinces thrown together in the post-war state building rush, the monarchy had to build a state out of multiple ethnic and religious groups . Unfortunately for them, their attempts were taken over by other want-to-be leaders. One of the main worries after the 2003 invasion of Iraq was how to deal with a potential civil war as a consequence of the ethnic and religious divisions, enhanced after decades under Hussein. What for the leaders following WWI was a solution to a messy problem, has become a significant issue in the present.

  3. William Mackey

    The 1948 War/Israel’s creation was undoubtably one of the most important events of the twentieth century, the consequences of which are still influencing the world today. When Britain withdrew from Palestine and the UN took over–without any military forces, however–the resulting power vacuum allowed Israeli farmers and settlers, who were better organized than their Palestinian counterparts, to begin taking over the area. But the surrounding Arab states, including Egypt, Syria, and Transjordan, were not about to let let this happen. They invaded Palestine in an attempt to push the “Jews into the sea.” Yet their forces were poorly coordinated and the Israelis, despite the number of countries they were facing, had more soldiers, and after six months, Israel won the war. The West Bank and Gaza became the only Arab-controlled provinces, and 700,000 Palestinians were displaced. The Arab world was shocked, and the anger generated by this conflict–for both Jew and Arab alike–continues to this day. Unfortunately, it shows no sign of abating any time soon.

    Mosaddegh’s ousting in Iran was another pivotal moment between WWI and 1960. With his overthrow, which the CIA assisted, the Middle East saw that colonial-like interference had not disappeared. According to Iranians, it just appeared in a new guise: the cold war. After Mosaddegh’s removal, the disgraced Shah, who had fled the country earlier, returned to power. He was not popular, however, and he was viewed as a Western puppet. That attitude did not change as the years progressed, and when the Shah instituted his White Revolution reforms, meant to modernize Iran, the backlash was intense. Landless, rural poor flocked to the cities, where they found no jobs, and they increasingly gravitated to the ulama, who were publicly challenging the Shah’s legitimacy. Ultimately, the ulama won. The Shah was overthrown, and Ayatollah Khomeini came to power. The US still does not know how to–or even want to–deal with post-Shah Iran. But that attitude has become increasingly dangerous, especially since Iran is about to join the nuke-holding club.

  4. Riley O'Rourke

    The two defining moments that I drew from this time period was the 1948 war and the Free Officer’s Coup. These, more than any other seem to set in motion event s that are still being played out today. The borders of the currently proposed two state solution are largely similar to where they stood after the war. Although future failed Arab attempt would low them to seize more land, these attacks and the state of Israel’s ability to resist were born in 1948. Because of this initial success the Arab states’ will largely be defined by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This come both in leader’s direct actions against the Jewish state and their ability to use Israel as focal point of anger away from them (a whipping boy for to take the rage caused by their injustices.)

    However as the Free Officer’s Coup shows, while they could be a useful tool, actions against Israel could cause the overthrow of governments. While their where a host of other problems plaguing Egyptian society, 1948 was were the Free Officers cut their teeth and first felt betrayed by their government and the Anglophile King. Partially propelled by rage and shame caused by the nakhba Nasser was able to take power and resist Israeli and Western aggression. This moved enshrined his power and allowed him to come as close as anyone did to a pan-Arab movement with the union of Egypt and Syria after Egypt’s “victory” in the Suez. The Israel-Egyptian link that was forged during this period echoes on through the assassination of Sadat for reaching peace with Israel and the successive police states of Egypt.

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