Q Give and account of the rise of Nationalism in Egypt since the world war-1.
Ans When Britain and Ottoman empire went to war in 1914, Britain proclaimed a protectorate over Egypt without asking or receiving permission from Egyptian nation. A delegation'WAFD' party (established in 1919) and led by Saad Zaghlul Pasha met with the British High Commissoner and demanded that Egypt should be represented at the peace conference in Paris in 1919 as an independent power. They also asked for permission to travel to London to lobby for Egyptian independence. Saad had been vice president of legislative assembly and Minister of Education.
Saad was arrested and he along with associates were deported to Malta. This led to an insurrection in which students, workers and other classes paralysed the whole country. Coercive measures by the British could not lead to anything. Therefore Saad was released and allowed to procced to Paris where he attended the Peace conference. From Paris he went to London to place Egypt's case.
The British govt. sent lord Millner on a mission to investigate the cause of Egyptian dissatisfaction. His recommendations found the basis of Anglo-Egyptian treaty which was signed by Great Britain and Sultan Fuad of Egypt in 1921. Britain proclaimed the country an independent Monarchy under King Fuad. However, the British still retained the right to station troops there. Egypt continued to be closely allied with Britain did little to moderate Fuad's autocratic rule.
The treaty of 1921 was rejected and opposed by the nationalists of Egypt. Fresh riots broke out. Saad Zaghlul Pasha was again deported. Constitution was restored in 1923. The 'WAFDISTS' secured an overwhelming majority. Zaghlul Pasha was called again and he became the Premier of Egypt.
A serious crisis arose in 1924 when the British Govt.'s Governor General in Sudan was assasinated in Cairo. Zaghlul Pasha denounced the crime and promised swift action against the culprits But the Britishers did not budge and put many conditions on Egypt. The occupied the custom houise at Alexandria. Saad Zaghlul opposed these measures and resigned in protest. He died in 1927.
After Saad, Nahas Pasha became the leader of Wafd party. He refused to accept a new treaty proposed by British govt. The people became restless. Parliament was suspended and Sidky Pasha, the leader of the rival party assumed power and promised a new constitution for Egypt in 1930. He tried his best to suppress the nationalists but couldnot succeed and resigned in 1933. WAFDISTS again succeeded in election of 1936 and Nahas Pasha again became the Premier of Egypt.
Nahas Pasha entered into negotiations with British which resulted in Anglo Egyptian treaty of 1936. Britain agreed to recognize the independence of Egypt and withdrawl of troops from the country except the Suez canal. Britain secured the right to station 10,000 men in Suez zone for 20 years. Nahas Pasha hoped that the British would give Egypt complete independence after the world war-II which they had promised many times since 1881. However, King Farouq dismissed Nahas in 1944.
In January, 1952 anti-British riots in Cairo caused extensive damage and accelerated the evacuation of canal zone by the British. However, the most profound change in Egypt occured in July, 1952. King Farouq of Egypt was deposed by the military coup headed by General Naguib and Col. Jamal Abdel Nasser. Soon Nasser became the real head in Egypt. By the Cairo agreement in 1954, Britain undertook to withdraw its forces from the Canal zone in 1956.
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Importance of middle east
Q Discuss the importance of middle east from every sphere.
Ans Middle East or more recently 'West Asia' includes the Arab countries of the eastern Arab world , Turkey, Iran, Cyprus and Israel but excludes Afghanistan and Pakistan. Sometimes Afghanistan is included in Middle east.
The Middle eastern states have their claims to antiquity. The three major religions-Christianity, Judaism and Islam originated in the Middle east. The modern history of the region is dated from french occupation of Egypt in 1798. However, most of the Middle Eastern states with different cultures, religions and languages are the creation as a collapse of Ottoman Empire at the end of the 1st world war. The Ottoman empire ruled Arab side of Middle East almost from 1535 to 1914. Side by side Ottomans Safavis( later Qajars) existed in Persia. The immediate cause of collapse of Ottoman empire was their decision to join world war-1 on the side of European powers, Germany-Austria. Britain and France also played a great role in raising the Arab nationalism against Turks. Balkanisation of Middle East led to separate Arab states.
Geo-strategic importance of Middle east :- Middle east is both strategically and politically important because it is the meeting place of Asian, European and African continents.
Middle east possesses the greatest oil reserves in the world. The world relies on the region for over a third of its energy supplies. A cartel of Middle Eastern oil producing countries with a few other countries have been formed, called OPEC. OPEC has been used as a powerful weapon in international diplomacy. In 1973 oil producing Arab countries used oil as a weapon against western countries and Israel. Oil remains the most important source of foreign exchange of Arab oil countries.
Since 1945 i.e just before the existence of Israel, there have been five Arab-Israeli wars. Jerusalem which is of religious importance to Christians, Muslims and Jews has been a bone of contention. In 1956 Suez war started when Britain, France and Israel attacked Egypt. From 1975 to 1990 there was civil war in Lebanon.
From 1980-88 thetre was Iran-Iraq war with high level of casualities of over one million people.In 1990-1991, Iraq occupied Kuwait but was evicted by U.S and allied forces. In 2003 U.S and British forces attacked Iraq and removed Saddam Hussein. But the civil war is still continuing in Iraq.
Salient Features of Middle east in today's world::-
(1)The Middle Eastern oil has been and will remain a major source of concern for strategic, commercial and now environmental reasons.
(2) Iran's nuclear program will be a great concern for U.S, Israel and others in near future.
(3) Until Palestinian issue is settled there will be continuous strife in Middle east. There is a dire need of Palestinian state according to the aspirations of Palestinians.
(4) Foreign forces have to leave Iraq and Kurdish issue has to be resolved.
(5) Cyprus issue between Greeks and Turks have to be settled amicably.
(6) Oil producing Arab countries are lagging behind in science and technology, human development and democratisation. These require serious efforts and heavy investments.
(7) Arab league shoiuld be made more effective and assertive.
Ans Middle East or more recently 'West Asia' includes the Arab countries of the eastern Arab world , Turkey, Iran, Cyprus and Israel but excludes Afghanistan and Pakistan. Sometimes Afghanistan is included in Middle east.
The Middle eastern states have their claims to antiquity. The three major religions-Christianity, Judaism and Islam originated in the Middle east. The modern history of the region is dated from french occupation of Egypt in 1798. However, most of the Middle Eastern states with different cultures, religions and languages are the creation as a collapse of Ottoman Empire at the end of the 1st world war. The Ottoman empire ruled Arab side of Middle East almost from 1535 to 1914. Side by side Ottomans Safavis( later Qajars) existed in Persia. The immediate cause of collapse of Ottoman empire was their decision to join world war-1 on the side of European powers, Germany-Austria. Britain and France also played a great role in raising the Arab nationalism against Turks. Balkanisation of Middle East led to separate Arab states.
Geo-strategic importance of Middle east :- Middle east is both strategically and politically important because it is the meeting place of Asian, European and African continents.
Middle east possesses the greatest oil reserves in the world. The world relies on the region for over a third of its energy supplies. A cartel of Middle Eastern oil producing countries with a few other countries have been formed, called OPEC. OPEC has been used as a powerful weapon in international diplomacy. In 1973 oil producing Arab countries used oil as a weapon against western countries and Israel. Oil remains the most important source of foreign exchange of Arab oil countries.
Since 1945 i.e just before the existence of Israel, there have been five Arab-Israeli wars. Jerusalem which is of religious importance to Christians, Muslims and Jews has been a bone of contention. In 1956 Suez war started when Britain, France and Israel attacked Egypt. From 1975 to 1990 there was civil war in Lebanon.
From 1980-88 thetre was Iran-Iraq war with high level of casualities of over one million people.In 1990-1991, Iraq occupied Kuwait but was evicted by U.S and allied forces. In 2003 U.S and British forces attacked Iraq and removed Saddam Hussein. But the civil war is still continuing in Iraq.
Salient Features of Middle east in today's world::-
(1)The Middle Eastern oil has been and will remain a major source of concern for strategic, commercial and now environmental reasons.
(2) Iran's nuclear program will be a great concern for U.S, Israel and others in near future.
(3) Until Palestinian issue is settled there will be continuous strife in Middle east. There is a dire need of Palestinian state according to the aspirations of Palestinians.
(4) Foreign forces have to leave Iraq and Kurdish issue has to be resolved.
(5) Cyprus issue between Greeks and Turks have to be settled amicably.
(6) Oil producing Arab countries are lagging behind in science and technology, human development and democratisation. These require serious efforts and heavy investments.
(7) Arab league shoiuld be made more effective and assertive.
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