Middle East Independence and Post-Colonial Era

Decolonization in the Middle East

The Middle East was one of the first regions to achieve independence after World War I, exhibiting three key features:

• Cultural Unity: Most people spoke Arabic, and many, including Turks and Persians, practiced Islam, fostering a sense of shared identity.
• Political Divisions: While Arabs aspired to their own states, the region was historically divided among three major powers: the British Empire, the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire, and Persia.
• Strategic Location: The region constituted the shortest sea route eastward via the Suez Canal. Furthermore, the oil fields around the Persian Gulf became critically important.

During the First World War, the British and Ottoman Empires clashed in the Middle East. Britain sought to support Arab nationalism, providing military aid and promising a united Arab kingdom. Simultaneously, it sought the support of Jewish nationalism, promising the creation of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine (the Balfour Declaration). After the war, Britain largely failed to fulfill these promises.

Following the war, former Ottoman territories were divided between the British and the French, eventually gaining autonomy and independence. Egypt and Saudi Arabia also achieved independence during this period.

Post-Colonial Developments in the Middle East

In the post-colonial era, Iran and Turkey emerged as secular regimes.

• The Turkish Republic aligned with NATO, pursuing a policy of modernization and Westernization, though its political regime often leaned towards authoritarianism.
• Successive Shahs of Iran applied a similar policy, largely funded by oil exports.

The Arab world was often divided into states with somewhat artificial borders. Many Arab nations were traditional monarchies, where Western powers often exerted significant influence over their oligarchies.

However, some countries experienced coups or popular revolutions, leading to the establishment of national republics. These new regimes were often hostile towards former colonial powers and the United States for several reasons:

• Their strong desire for genuine independence and autonomy.
• Resentment towards the West's stance on the creation of the State of Israel, which led to multiple conflicts.
• The nationalization of key resources to support state-planned economic development projects. Most Arab countries formed the nucleus of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries).

With the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, anti-Western sentiment was further rekindled across the region.