War And Peace in the Middle East

By Avi Shlaim

Presentation by Catherine CollinsAp World History G

Dr. Murnane

Background of Middle East

• Middle East has been an object of rivalry since 1798.

• No sole power has controlled Middle East.

• Its geographical placement and its abundance of oil has made the Middle East an area of importance.

• The entire Middle East has never been at peace to this day.

• The politics of the Middle East are not based on regional issues alone but the relations of outside power and local power.

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Shlaim’s View on Middle East

Shlaim’s Thesis: External forces were the largest determining factors in the development of the Middle East.

Shlaim divided the external involvement in the Middle East into four phases in time. Ottoman European ( British and French) Superpower (American & Soviet Union) American

Ottoman Empire Took place in the time period of 1516- 1918 Turks were in control from Constantinople; many

were Sultan descendants This empire was dynastic, Islamic, and multiethnic Allowed local traditions and rules to be upheld Ottoman empire gave more regional power to

Middle East Ottoman Empire was successful in several areas

but began to decline after the late 18th Century

Post Ottoman Syndrome British made promises to allies

for military advantages They made three very famous

promises:1. Promised to split land with

France between the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf

2. Promised to support Arab independence

3. Promised to provide a national home for Jews in Palestine.

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European Power In Middle East European power began as the Ottoman empire was

declining at the End of World War I until the 1956 Suez Crisis.

With European control new political and territorial orders were introduced to the Middle East• New states, boundaries and rulers were introduced

The British and French were the most involved in Middle Eastern politics in the European time period• Start of significant Western involvement in Middle

East • New state and political systems caused instability

America Between Arabs and Israelis

America became directly involved in the conflicts between the Arabs and the Israelis which resulted in a total of 6 wars

The United States had 4 vital interests in the Middle East1. The Cold War (power over Soviets)

2. Oil

3. Curbing Arab radicalism and terrorism

4. Security of Israel

The first three interests are often contradictory to securing Israel and that has been a large problem for the USA

Super Powers in Middle East

Superpower phase was 1950s-1991

It began with the decline of the European phase & ended with the collapse of Soviet Union

The Superpowers were America and Soviet Union

M.E. was controlled locally, no political unit or military occupied M.E.

Worked through alliances, made economic & arms assistance

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Politics of Persian Gulf Persian Gulf controls oil & Indian ocean

trade America focused on oil, arms supplies &

keeping Soviet Union away from oil fields Britain’s interest in Gulf for regional politics

& internal conditions Neither could protect Gulf because of

Vietnam war & other commitments America assisted the shah of Iran who was

disliked among Iranians --> made America unpopular also

Arabs revolted against America over Israel by refusing to sell oil to USA

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Iran- Iraq War American hostages held over a year in

Tehran Iran was viewed as radical & Iraq as

controlled America took Iraq’s side without

military support, only negotiations Longest war since WWII Iran was larger worldwide threat with

more military & technology support America, once on Iraq side, later takes

measures to remove Saddam from power & have his people revolt against him

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American Phase America gains greater control once they defeat Soviets in

the Cold war in 1991 Main goal was to keep “status quo” American entered Iraq war to set up government for Iraq

and to help reduce terrorism in Middle East Shlaim often criticizes America for making Cold War &

Israel more important than peace in Middle East After gaining more power USA is now attempting to make

Middle East a larger priority

Attempt for Peace America’s competition with

Soviets is replaced with cooperation in early 1990s

After 20 months & 10 rounds of peace talks Israelis attempts peace with Palestinians

Israel is still a priority but more attention is on Arab rights and equal attention throughout Middle East

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