The Ottoman's ruled Arab lands for 400 years until the end of the First World War. Local leaders became more powerful as European influence encroached on their empire at the end of the 17th C. In the 18th C leaders in Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Damascus, Iraq and Arabia posed a challenge to Ottoman rule. However, France and Britain created artificial borders for nation states to be placed under colonial rule, disappointing those encouraged by U.S. President Woodrow's Wilson's call for national self-determination.
Nation-state nationalism caused tension between pan-Arab nationalist ideologies and do to this day.
By the time Arab states achieved independence in the 40s and 50s the divisions between Arab states had become permanent.
'The colonial exoerience left the Arabs as a community of nations rather than a national community, and Arabs remain disappointed by the results.'
The Second World War ended colonialism and started the Cold War. Alergeria, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and South Yemen sided with the Soviet Union. Tunisia, Lebabanon, Morocco, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States sided with the United States.
The Cold War ended shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
The Soviets then voted in favour of a UN Security Council resolution authorising a U.S.-led war against their old ally Iraq.
After 9/11 Georg W. Bush led a war on terrorism that focused on the Muslim world. Violence and instabilty have been the norm in the Middle East since 1989. Only the Arab Gulf states have prospered.
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| British officers drive a car past theArab army in Damascus on 1 October 1918. |
By the time Arab states achieved independence in the 40s and 50s the divisions between Arab states had become permanent.
'The colonial exoerience left the Arabs as a community of nations rather than a national community, and Arabs remain disappointed by the results.'
The Second World War ended colonialism and started the Cold War. Alergeria, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and South Yemen sided with the Soviet Union. Tunisia, Lebabanon, Morocco, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States sided with the United States.
The Cold War ended shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
 |
| A West-Berliner hits the wall next to the Brandenburg Gate, 10 November 1989 . |
The Soviets then voted in favour of a UN Security Council resolution authorising a U.S.-led war against their old ally Iraq.
After 9/11 Georg W. Bush led a war on terrorism that focused on the Muslim world. Violence and instabilty have been the norm in the Middle East since 1989. Only the Arab Gulf states have prospered.
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