Britain and the Middle East in the 1930s: Security Problems, 1935-39
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Author Description
The aggressive foreign policy of Fascist Italy, and the growing threats of Nazi Germany and of Japan, created multiple security problems for Britain and its empire. This book focuses on the Middle East, where the hegemony which Britain and France had established after the First World War was increasingly challenged during the 1930s. The first part examines the global context in which British strategy for the Middle East was formulated. It includes important new assessments of Italy's strategy in the Mediterranean, and of Egypt as the keystone of British defense plans. In part two, the political situation in Egypt in the aftermath of the Abyssinian crisis, and Egypt's own regional ambitions are vividly portrayed. It includes chapters on the rethinking of strategic policy in Iraq, and the decline in cooperation between Britain and Saudi Arabia. The third part focuses on Palestine, where British control was challenged by the Arab rebellion against the Mandate, which established the Jewish National Home. Britain was acutely embarrassed by the protracted struggle, 1936-39, given the pan-Arab sympathies for the rebels and the illicit support afforded by the dictatorships in Europe. The conclusion considers the question of appeasement and British colonial policy on the eve of World War II.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
The book investigates the multifaceted security challenges Britain faced in the Middle East between 1935 and 1939, a period marked by rising global tensions and the erosion of established colonial power. It examines how the aggressive foreign policies of Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, and Imperial Japan created a complex strategic landscape for Britain and its empire, particularly in the Middle East where its post-World War I hegemony was increasingly contested. The analysis is structured into three parts, beginning with the global context influencing British strategy, followed by an in-depth look at the political and regional dynamics within Egypt and Iraq, and concluding with the intense challenges in Palestine during the Arab rebellion.
THE SCOPE MAP
- Analysis of Italy's strategy in the Mediterranean and its implications for British defense.
- Detailed examination of Egypt's pivotal role in British defense planning.
- Exploration of the political situation in Egypt post-Abyssinian crisis and its regional ambitions.
- Reassessment of strategic policy in Iraq and the shifting relationship with Saudi Arabia.
- In-depth coverage of the Arab rebellion in Palestine (1936-1939) and its impact on British control.
- Discussion of the challenges posed by pan-Arab sympathies and illicit support from European dictatorships.
- Consideration of appeasement policies and their connection to British colonial strategy on the eve of World War II.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
This book offers a detailed examination of Britain's security concerns in the Middle East during a critical pre-war period. The analysis delves into the strategic considerations shaped by global aggressors and regional ambitions, providing new assessments of key areas like Egypt and Iraq. It highlights the complexities of managing colonial mandates, particularly in Palestine amidst the Arab rebellion, and connects these regional issues to broader questions of appeasement and British foreign policy. The work aims to illuminate the difficult decisions and evolving strategies Britain employed as it navigated the escalating threats leading up to World War II.
Page Count:
231
Publication Date:
1992-01-01
Publisher:
St. Martin's Press
ISBN-10:
0312072112
ISBN-13:
9780312072117
History
Non-Fiction
British History
International relations
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