The modern Middle East : a political history since the First World War

537 Pages·2011·5.019 MB·English

by  Mehran Kamrava

The Modern Middle easT
praise for the first edition of the modern middle east
“Mehan Kamrava provides an in-depth analysis not only of political history
but also of other issues that have plagued this part of the world for so many
years and that may remain unresolved for years to come.”
— Mahmood Monshipouri, author of Islamism, Secularism, and Human
Rights in the Middle East
“This is an ambitious, stimulating book that synthesizes a broad range of
literature on Middle East history and politics. The author analyzes many
important issues in the region, emphasizing the challenges countries
face in overcoming historical legacies, developing accountable leadership,
recovering from conflict, and developing productive economies.”
— Bradford Dillman, author of State and Private Sector in Algeria:
The Politics of Rent-seeking and Failed Development
“At a time when sensational books on the Middle East fill the market, this is
a serious and sober contribution that will help students and lay people alike.
The author approaches the highly charged emotional issues of the Middle
East with sensitivity and objectivity.”
— As‘ad AbuKhalil, author of The Battle for Saudi Arabia: Royalty,
Fundamentalism, and Global Power
“A very well-researched, accessible, and up-to-date book. Kamrava’s themes
are well chosen; his analysis is cogent and lucid.”
—Manochehr Dorraj, author of Middle East at the Crossroads
The Modern Middle East
a Political history since the First World War
second ediTion
MEhran KaMrava
UniversiTy oF caliFornia Press
Berkeley los angeles london
University of California Press, one of the most distinguished
university presses in the United States, enriches lives around the
world by advancing scholarship in the humanities, social sciences,
and natural sciences. Its activities are supported by the UC Press
Foundation and by philanthropic contributions from individuals
and institutions. For more information, visit www.ucpress.edu.
University of California Press
Berkeley and Los Angeles, California
University of California Press, Ltd.
London, England
© 2011 by The Regents of the University of California
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kamrava, Mehran, 1964–.

The modern Middle East : a political history since the First World
War / Mehran Kamrava. —2nd ed.

p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn 978-0-520-26774-9 (cloth : alk. paper)
isbn 978-0-520-26775-6 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Middle East—History—20th century. 2. Middle East—

History—21st century. 3. Middle East—Politics and government—

20th century. 4. Middle East—Politics and government—21st

century. I. Title.
DS62.8.k365 2011
956.04—dc22 2010023250

Manufactured in the United States of America
19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This book is printed on Cascades Enviro 100, a 100% postconsumer
waste, recycled, de-inked fiber. FSC recycled certified and processed
chlorine free. It is acid free, Ecologo certified, and manufactured by
BioGas energy.
To Melisa,
Dilara, and Kendra
This page intentionally left blank
contents
list of illustrations ix
list of Tables xi
acknowledgments to the First edition xiii
acknowledgments to the second edition xv
introduction 1
ParT I. a PolITIcal hIsTory of ThE MIddlE EasT 9
1. From islam to the Great War 11
2. From Territories to independent states 37
3. The age of nationalism 69
4. The arab-israeli Wars 109
5. The iranian revolution 140
6. The Gulf Wars and Beyond 170
ParT II. IssuEs In MIddlE EasTErn PolITIcs 213
7. The Palestinian-israeli conflict 215
8. The challenge of economic development 259
9. states and Their opponents 297
10. The Question of democracy 345
11. challenges Facing the Middle east 374
notes 393
Bibliography 449
index 481
vii
This page intentionally left blank
Illustrations
fIgurEs
1. Turkish women in a late nineteenth-century harem. 27
2. Women in algiers in the 1880s. 51
3. Mustafa Kemal atatürk and reza shah Pahlavi confer. 61
4. Female members of the iraqi home Guard march in Baghdad,
1959. 73
5. david Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of the state of israel. 79
6. israeli women take an oath to join the haganah, Tel aviv, 1948. 81
7. egyptian women celebrate nasser’s announcement of women’s
right to vote, 1956. 95
8. egyptian boys and girls receive military training during the suez
canal crisis, 1956. 98
9. israeli soldiers celebrate capturing Jerusalem in the 1967 War. 122
10. egyptian soldiers celebrate crossing the suez canal in the
1973 War. 131
11. ayatollah Khomeini, leader of iran’s islamic revolution. 155
12. iraqi female police officers during their graduation ceremony
at the Baghdad Police college. 183
13. iraqi forces on the “highway of death.” 187
14. shi`ite iraqi women mourn after the Gulf War in 1991. 189
15. osama bin laden’s videotaped messages were broadcast on
al-Jazeera. 201
16. saddam hussein’s statue is toppled in Baghdad. 205
ix