Middle East's Boundaries Flashcards
Three ways that the Middle East lacks cultural uniformity?
=> Religious.
=> Ethnic.
=> Linguistic.
What was the historical border divide? And what region did not fit?
=> Split between Ottoman and Persian Empire.
=> Kujistan.
What are the two conflicts with Kujistan?
=> Identity and Nationalism: Arabs live there, but it belongs to the Persian side.
=> OIL (MAIN REASON). So wealthy in oil, generates 57% of Iran’s oil production.
What did this tension lead to?
Iraq invading in the 1980s.
What did the initial, Treaty of Sevres propose and why was it not fully implemented?
=> It proposed the splitting up of the Ottoman Empire and allocating territory to various Allied powers.
=> HOWEVER there was great Turkish resistance upon finding out the severe terms for them over it. —> 3 year long war of independence against Allies. (Emerged victorious).
What was the Sykes Picot agreement? Why was it problematic?
=> It was a secret agreement between France and Britain to divide up territory in the Middle East between themselves.
=> It conflicted post-war territorial agreements made to various Arab leaders.
What was done to Palestine? Significance?
=> Promised to Jews as a national home.
=> Would allow Britain to continue to maintain influence.
=> Solve ‘Jewish problem’ as Jews were being persecuted across Europe.
=> BUT issue as it was part of the huge Arab state that had been promised.
Which two communities were in conflict under British rule of Palestine?
=> Zinonist and Arab communities.
When did Britain give up its mandate? Who was the issue of Palestine passed to?
=> 1947.
=> Passed to UN.
What did the UN announce that it would try to do? Did it work?
=> UN announced a plan to divide Palestine into an Arab and Jewish state.
=> Zinonists accepted, Arabs did not leading to a Civil War.
Issues of Israel declaring itself as independent?
=> Needed no vetoes from expanded security council, or 2/3rds of assembly. US was not going to support as it would lead to conflict with Middle East who controlled oil. (Wilson would end up endorsing though).
Outline the conflict between Israel and Arab States and the outcome?
=> Israel was invaded on all fronts by its 8 Arab neighbours.
=> By 1949, Israel came out victorious.
=> 750,000 forced to flee their homes.
=> Israel gained a further 60% of the territory than proposed by the UN.
=> Passed ‘law of return’ allowing 1 million Jews to enter the country.
Outline the six day war?
=> 1976, won by Israel.
=> Israel took various areas, including the West bank and the Gaza strip.
Who is the PLO? Why were they a threat to Jordan?
=> Palestine Liberation Organisation?
=> They moved their bases to Jordan and recruited ‘Freedom Fighters’.
=> A threat as they became so powerful, threatening King Hussein of Jordan’s sovereignty.
What was Black September?
=> A conflict between PLO and Hussein’s Jordanian forces.
=> Hussein wanted to assert his authority and limit the influence of the Palestinian groups, this event was the breaking point.
=> Led to the expulsion of the PLO and other Palestinian groups to Lebanon.
