“Turkification” policies, in turn, spur growth of Arab nationalism
World War I, Western Colonialism, and Decolonisation
World War I and European Colonialism
The Arab Revolt:
o
Dissatisfaction with Ottoman empire
o
Secret negotiations between Hashemite governor of Mecca and Medina (Sharif
Husayn), and British
Husayn-McMahon correspondence
British agree to in exchange for Arab revolt against Ottomans, they will
support post-war independence of Arab world
o
Negotiations led to Arab Revolt (1916)
Arab irregulars under Faisal advance with British advisors (e.g. Lawrence
of Arabia), execute guerilla war against Ottoman while British do regular
military campaign
Successful
Arab irregulars/British converge on Damascus
Three sets of promises from British:
o
Hussayn-McMahon correspondence, 1916
Promised support for Arab independence to Hashemites
o
Balfour Declaration, 1917
Promise in Palestine a Jewish national home (but no prejudice for non-
Jewish communities)
o
Sykes-Picot Agreement, 1916
Agreement with French to carve ME into spheres of influence
League of Nations mandates
(quasi-colonial territories):
o
WW1 was war “for democracy” – how to reconcile this with upcoming
colonialism?
o
British/French claims they’re not yet ready for independence, so they will
manage these countries until they are (“tutor the natives”)
o
France mandates
: Syria, Lebanon
Arab irregulars and French fight over Syria, British settle this by saying
Faisal can be King of Iraq, and Abdullah can be King of Transjordan
creates two Hashemite monarchies
o
Britain mandates
: Palestine, Transjordan, Iraq
o
How long? European colonial rule from end of WW1
Why did colonialism fade?
