Revolutionary Nationlism and the Middle East
REVOLUTIONARY NATIONALISM AND THE MIDDLE EAST
One of the effects of World War I in the Middle East, was a variety of nationalist movements began and spread due to the division of the Ottoman Empire. There are five essential assumptions of nationalism: all nationalists believe that humanity is naturally divided into smaller nations, nations can be identified by certain characteristics that all its citizens hold in common, including; ethnic, religious, or historical traditions, times might change but nations retain their characteristics, a people have a certain place where their ancestors first emerged, and that nations all have a “common interest” and that is what the state promotes (Gelvin, 2011, p. 208-209). All of the nations that were left in the aftermath were now “claiming that their movements represented the political aspirations of the populations that had previously been ruled by the Ottoman Empire” (Gelvin, 2011, p. 208). Three countries that promoted nationalism in their countries after World War I, were Egypt, Turkey, and Iran; the nationalism of these three countries will be thoroughly compared and contrasted in this paper.
EGYPT World War I had political and economic consequences for Egypt (Gelvin, 2011, p. 196). Egypt had legally been part of the Ottoman Empire until World War I; although it had also been occupied by Britain. In December 1914, Egypt was declared a protectorate by Britain, which ended the Ottoman ruled for good (Gelvin , 2011, p. 196). By the end of World War I, the people of Egypt had grown tired of the British government and large landowners had also been alienated. The inflation of war had devastated the living standards of the civil servants, the poor, and the peasants (Gelvin, 2011, p. 196). Egypt is not directly involved in World War I, but with the defeat of the Axis Powers it leads them to hopes of their independence, especially after France and Britain declare their commitment in November 1918 (Gascoigne,
One of the effects of World War I in the Middle East, was a variety of nationalist movements began and spread due to the division of the Ottoman Empire. There are five essential assumptions of nationalism: all nationalists believe that humanity is naturally divided into smaller nations, nations can be identified by certain characteristics that all its citizens hold in common, including; ethnic, religious, or historical traditions, times might change but nations retain their characteristics, a people have a certain place where their ancestors first emerged, and that nations all have a “common interest” and that is what the state promotes (Gelvin, 2011, p. 208-209). All of the nations that were left in the aftermath were now “claiming that their movements represented the political aspirations of the populations that had previously been ruled by the Ottoman Empire” (Gelvin, 2011, p. 208). Three countries that promoted nationalism in their countries after World War I, were Egypt, Turkey, and Iran; the nationalism of these three countries will be thoroughly compared and contrasted in this paper.
EGYPT World War I had political and economic consequences for Egypt (Gelvin, 2011, p. 196). Egypt had legally been part of the Ottoman Empire until World War I; although it had also been occupied by Britain. In December 1914, Egypt was declared a protectorate by Britain, which ended the Ottoman ruled for good (Gelvin , 2011, p. 196). By the end of World War I, the people of Egypt had grown tired of the British government and large landowners had also been alienated. The inflation of war had devastated the living standards of the civil servants, the poor, and the peasants (Gelvin, 2011, p. 196). Egypt is not directly involved in World War I, but with the defeat of the Axis Powers it leads them to hopes of their independence, especially after France and Britain declare their commitment in November 1918 (Gascoigne,