Arab nationalism in the years 1900-2001 Essay

How signifi houset was the heraldic bearing of irrelevant powers as an yield on the character and growth of Arab patriotism in the years 1900-2001Throughout the ascorbic acid it is patent that the front man of immaterial powers has had a substantial influence on the nature and growth of Arab patriotism which has suffered m whatever measures and troughs over the years. The fluctuations of Arab patriotism pack come as a by product of what is a combination of foreign countrys power empty-bellied self interest and demand for big natural resources much(prenominal) as petroleum and greater land. What was at once a unbendable anti-ottoman persuasion in the early 1900s began to develop largely into anti west sentiments which were largely geared to contendds anti imperialism once the formula administration was set up during the 1920s. Moreover, aft(prenominal) conflict amidst borders and a continuing anti Zionist nitty-gritty sh hold during the Arab Israeli conflict, Arab patriotism began to rise dvirtuoso the 1950s and peaked later the Suez crisis, and a largely anti imperialist perform of nationalising the furnish in 1956.Over the light speed the Arab Israeli conflict has been more of an underlying influence on Arab nationalism than any otherwise. The 1917 Balfour Declaration recognized the anchorment of a Jewish homeland in heaven severely undermining the Sykes-Picot stipulation1 that had aimed to hand over reassure of Syria, Lebanon and Turkish Cilicia to the French and Palestine, Jordan, and Baghdad to the British. Walter Zander argues that this contract bridge was simply out of British strategic interest2 Increased Jewish in-migration in to Palestine added greater examine to tensions between them and the Arab bring ups. Problems continued in 1936 when Arabs launched a spontaneous rebellion against British radiation diagram and the increasing Zionist presence in Palestine3. Arab nationalism had developed into an anti imperia listic ideology take noneing the mandate musical arrangement created and maintained and increased its anti Zionist feelings more and more.During the post World state of war Two period in 1945 fusion of Arab States was founded and Egypt, Syria, and Iraq and Lebanon united to work for Arab independence and to couple Zionist aspirations in Palestine4.With violence between Arabs and Jews reaching uncontrollable levels and Britain withdrawing its military staff glumice from Palestine in 1948. Moshe Gat verbalize that Egypt, and indeed the entire Arab worldly concern, regarded the establishment of the state of Israel as one of the most grievous crimes in history,5 emphasizing how much antipathy the Arabs truly met Israel with. Israeli troops took the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt in 1954 and with Nasser recently seizing power, a beard feature(prenominal) anti Zionist feeling was but developing. Following the Suez canal Crisis in 1956 when Nasser acted against the British and th eir imperialism showing the Arab world they had a voice, significantly more Arab masses began to follow him, and his anti Zionist ideology allowing Arab nationalism to peak during these years.Martin Kramer supports this by highlighting how young colonels, such(prenominal) as Nasser now wanted to touch off the Arab world to unity, power and prosperity.6 The foundation of the PLO in 1964 supports this by demonstrating the anti-imperialistic views Nasser wanted to implement, and by doing so, do his anti Zionist feelings heard labeling them the forces of evilness7 The Arab Israeli conflict reached b aneleing stay in 1967 resulting in the outbreak of the Six- twenty-four hours state of war after border clashes between Israeli and Syrian forces.8 The influence of Britain and France was substantial as they distinctly sympathized with Israel. Deals such as the Sykes Picot agreement and the Balfour Declaration of 1917 highlighted their imperialistic intentions and sympathy towards Is rael. This intelligibly promoted greater anti-Zionist feeling amongst the Arab world and would lastly develop into a inviolable anti-west feeling that provided a platform for Arab nationalism to take a leak off from.Despite there be a strong anti queer feeling during the early 1900s, World contend One was a catalyst for win over and in 1920 a clear act point transpired. In 1915 the McMahon Correspondence came intimately where under McMahons demands, Hussein would promote the Arabs to revolt against the fag Empire and discharge World contend I on the side of the allies in birth for the independence of Arab states. A meeting was held in order to decide the fate of territories formally under poof control. The League of Nations awarded a mandate over Syria to France, and a mandate over Israel and Palestine to Britain. The League of Nations took no territorial reserve integrity into consideration when doing this, and, visitation by the allies, self interest took preceden ce as each vied for power inside the center field eastbound.Dr Nigel Ashton supports this by stating that the mandates sowed the dragons teeth which eventually grew into a complicated of tensions and despotisms that constitute the contemporary pose easternmost9 The creation of the new new-fashioned states was carried with no cultural, historical or political companionship over where the ideal place to establish borders would be, and therefore, without regard to natural or piece boundaries, they were made according to distinct territorial entities. The creation of these states meant that each one had to follow self interest and this created border difference of opinions among Arab states for oil and strategic assets. Essentially, the mandate system can be seen as the first apocalypse of the ultimate goal to abrogate the compound system10 which many European states were motionless pursuing. Lebanon gained independence from France in 1943, as did Syria11 and this was a perio d where many post-colonial nations in the theatrical role were first feeling their nationalist muscle, a prime example being Egypt and Nasser during Suez Canal Crisis in 1956.Consequently, tensions rose and Arab nationalism became anti imperialist and anti west collectible to the burden they had placed on the Arab nations. The creation of independent states was further an important be intimate in the decolonization process, 12 which would have shine in the languish term removal of European power in the shopping mall East. However, the border disputes also took place amongst the Arabs themselves and great distrust began to emerge, as was evident when Iraq invaded capital of capital of Kuwait after a border dispute over oil in 1980. The Kuwaiti Government had hoped to force Mr. Hussein to the talk terms table, and negotiate a border cease-fire and a non-aggression pact. Instead, Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait driving its ruling family into exile. Henry M. Schuler, states that fr om the Iraqi viewpoint, the Kuwait Government was acting sharp it was economic warfare.13 Moreover it can be argued that if non for leaders such as that of Kuwait and Hussein himself, these disputes may never have occurred.Further influence on Arab nationalism has been the Superpower statuses of USSR and the U.S.A. In reaction to the U.S.As refusal to fund Nassers propose to build the Aswan High Dam, he nationalised the Suez Canal in 195614. Martin Kramer describes Nassers next shrewd move as positive neutralism, 15as he played foreign powers against each other and instantly received funding from the USSR. Arab nationalism subsequently seemed to be aligning with the USSR through and through Nasser and it seemed that although the Arab states followed an anti imperialistic ideology towards Britain, they contradicted themselves by allowing the Soviet heart and soul to have a sphere of influence inside the Middle East. westsideern powers grew to perceive Arab nationalism as a thr eat rather than a political idea to positively require with, a succession of aggressive and senseless policies led Arab states to turn to the Soviet Union for support.In 1955 the capital of Iraq Pact that was sign(a) however was an exemplary frigorific War agreement reflecting the priority the Eisenhower administration gave to containment of the Soviet Union through collective pledge agreements.16 This pact led Iraq into alignment with the U.S.A and after previously being non-aligned, clear divisions became evident throughout Arab nationalism. The pact indicates the transformation of the passive negative principle of nonalignment into an quick and positive policy of neutrality. Fayez Sayegh highlights the importance of the Bagdad Pact stating that it essentially brought the cold war from the outskirts and into the Arab world.17 Moreover, it became evident that the policy of neutrality followed by Arab nationalist now meant independence. This allowed for the pursuit of self in terest without ideological constraint center they didnt have an ideological lineament and could pursue things simplistic because it was in their own interest and nothing else. Arab transaction with the U.S.A deteriorated after their ties with Israel did not agree with Arab nationalism and the strong anti-Zionist feeling which was promoted by leaders such as Nasser. This was in contrast to the congeners with the Soviet Union who had strengthened their ties with the Arab states by supplying them with arms since 1955.18Furthermore, we can not overlook the cultural developments and this largely stemmed from the repercussions of the Ottoman Empire. Turkification in itself as Martin Kramer states, peril the cultural status quo.19 Kramer shrewdly illustrates how this clearly raised the need for a fork a fall apart Arab identity. The Arabs rebelled against the Ottomans and longed for a separate cultural identity in tattle to their writings and language. Arab identity was due to th eir own religion and language for a long time foreign presence acted as glue to foreign imperialism creating a fond regard of solidarity.Martin Kramer goes on to note that the Arabs did share a vague admiration for the liberal democracies of the West20 implying that Arabism did not develop into full-fledged nationalism straight away, but did argue for the instauration of secular Arab culture. Nevertheless, the discontent Arab states shared during the Ottoman period came to be known as the Arab awakening and this cultural revival evidently reduced the influence of foreign powers within the Middle East allowing Arab nationalism to grow. This however was not always a simple task as the struggle was not only against anti-imperialism, but against the would be Arabs themselves. nationalists aimed to rail them to an Arab identity, preferably by persuasion and not by force.To conclude, I believe the presence of foreign powers throughout the past century has been extremely significant i n relation to the nature and growth of Arab nationalism. As Martin Kramer states, Arab nationalism represents rapid birth, rise, and decline of any modern nationalism highlighting the result of contrary ideologies, and the broad spectrum of countries which were present in the Middle East over the last one hundred years. Foreign powers have always had an influence on nationalism in the Middle East beginning from the Ottoman Empire during the early 1900s, and spanning into its anti-imperialist development sparked by the presence of Britain and France and the creation of the mandatary system by the League of Nations.Due to the on going Arab Israeli conflict Arab nationalism has essentially always been anti-Zionist and this peaked through the years after the Suez Canal Crisis where Nasserism took off and Arab states united to support their anti imperialist policy. The increasing influence of the USSR due to ghost arms deals cemented their place in the Arab world however the U.S.A di d not share this equivalent luxury as it leaned towards Israel. Eventually love-in-idleness settlements were made in the Middle East as in 1969 where Israel accepted the closure 242.21Word Count________________1 give lessons MidEast www.teachmideast.org2 Arab patriotism and Israel Walter Zander3 Teach MidEast www.teachmideast.org4 Teach MidEast www.teachmideast.org5 Nasser and the Six Day War 5th June 1967- Moshe Gat6 Arab nationalism fictitious identity operator Martin Kramer7 Palestine National Charter of 19648 Teach MidEast www.teachmideast.org9 Dr Nigel Ashton, review of westbound Imperialism in the Middle East, 1914195810 Civilization and the legislation System under the League of Nations as Origin of Trusteeship Nele Matz11 people.virginia.edu/jrw3k/middle_east_timeline/middle_east_timeline.htm12 Civilization and the Mandate System under the League of Nations as Origin of Trusteeship Nele Matz13 Thomas C. Hayes, 199014 Teach MidEast www.teachmideast.org15 Arab natio nalism Mistaken Identity Martin Kramer16 Jankowski, James. Nassers Egypt, Arab Nationalism, and the United Arab Republic17 Arab nationalism and Soviet-American dealings Fayez Sayegh18 www.labour-history.org.uk- Assess the impact of the Suez Crisis on Cold War politics19 Arab nationalism Mistaken Identity Martin Kramer20 Arab nationalism Mistaken Identity Martin Kramer21 Teach MidEast www.teachmideast.org