Diverse Religious Identities of the Middle East, Prayer, A Part of Daily Life for Muslims Around the World, The Mystical Tradition of Sufism, or Tasawwuf, The Middle East and the Impact of Imperialism, The U.S. and Post-Bandung Imperial Dominance, The Middle East Studies Center at the Ohio State University, Chapter Three: The Middle East and the Impact of Imperialism, Map: Kurdish Territory Negative Effects Of Imperialism. algerian war of independence; Sphere of influence is a field or area in which an individual or organization has power to affect change and developments. To this day, the Kurds are a stateless nation, with their territory spanning across 4 nation-states: Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran (see map, below). Thats why England wanted India so bad because then they could tax all trade from Asia and Europe and make lots of money. After World War I, many of these countries were indeed reincarnated as they began to rebuild after sustaining the impacts of war, famine and cultural hegemony. Although the imperialism also brought positive effects to their colonials, but it is not good enough to cover the scars they brought to the colonials. As a result of advancing both nations can give a nation the name of a world leader with it helping both sides, everyone is developing in a way to help not just themselves, but others as well. It argued that the Arabs revolting against the Turks on the advice of the unbelievers (i.e. However, critics say imperialism exists today; for example, many in the Middle East saw the U.S.-led Iraq War as a new brand of anti-Arab and anti-Islamic imperialism. The mandate system established at San Remo in 1920 to resolve the problems caused by the defeat of the Ottoman Empire extended European imperialism by giving France control of Lebanon and Syria and Britain control of Palestine and Iraq. but also in Asia and the Middle East. The effects of imperialism in East Asia were not limited to economic and cultural changes. European imperialists worked hard to control the Suez Canal, but they also sought direct control over oil in countries like Iran. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the article. What countries does the region include? When a European power came into a foreign country of Asia, Africa or the Caribbean and conquered it for its own imperialistic motives, it completely dominated that country. What policy did Mohammad Mossadegh implement in Iran? 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. But they also have a lot to do with colonialism. The word "Imperialism" has a negative impression. No matter where you draw its borders, it's a contested term. though it has negative effects. There are various reasons as to why nations seek to imperialize other countries. Each country had it's own motives for wanting to gain an empire and some of the reason were Economic, Political, Religious and Exploitation. Imperialism is interpreted in two contradictory viewpoints. At the same time a movement to recognize the sovereignty of colonized countries let to the creation of mandates based on the territories ruled by European countries, with the idea that they would develop toward independent status. "The Clash of Civilizations." Despite the substantial similarities between European and Middle Eastern empires, the term imperialism is rarely used to describe the underlying principles of the Ottoman Empire. Imperialism is more often than not fueled by two major schools of thought known as nationalism and Social Darwinism. The author of this article is Eman M. Elshaikh. Their opponentsamong them Adam Smith, David Ricardo, and J.A. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps, Imperialism in the Middle East and North Africa, Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa. Unlike parts of the world rich in raw materials or agricultural products that could not be grown in Europe, most parts of the Middle East and North Africa did not offer great rewards to their imperial masters. said, edward; GENEALOGY OF THE TERM DECOLONIZATION The Middle East and the West: WWI and Beyond World War I completed the European takeover of the Ottoman Empire's territories in the Middle East, and the region's modern boundaries emerged. Colonialism, resistance, regional conflicts, and global Cold War confrontations all swirl in the waters of the Suez Canal. It resulted in slave trade, caused cultures to be destroyed and took away countries natural resources. Had it not been for imperialism, the world today would consist of more diverse cultures with less discrimination and countries would be able to use their resources as they. Imperialism has had both a positive and negative effects on the countries involved. Socially, the negative impression of imperialism evolved into loss of religion, population and dignity. urabi, ahmad; It also damaged the cultures and created disunity among the natives. Examples from history include Greek imperialism under Alexander the Great and Italian imperialism under Benito Mussolini. The British Raj was the rule of Britain in India between 1858 and 1947. But the borders drawn by Europeans reflected European priorities. So, the next time someone tells you "the Middle East is a violent place" or that "problems in the Middle East are the result of ancient religious conflicts," you should remind them that many of the worst conflicts in the region are direct results of twentieth-century colonialism and Cold War politics. In conclusion, imperialism had countless negative effects on the world today. Imperialism is generally defined as a phenomenon that began with the overseas expansion of Europe in the fifteenth century. Last but not least, imperialism stripped countries off their natural resources and left nothing for the natives. Imperialism is a type of advocacy of empire, it originated from the latin word imperium. balfour declaration (1917); After World War I, many of these countries were indeed "reincarnated" as they began to rebuild after sustaining the impacts of war, famine and cultural hegemony. Maps: NATO and other Alliances/Treaty Orgs. This action is done due to economic, exploratory, ethnocentric, political and religious reasons (Potter lecture). Great. Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa. In conclusion, European imperialism had a both positive and negative effect on Africa and Asia, while the majority of people fail to comprehend the positive facet of the topic. From 1500 to 1800, the Europeans already had their eyes on Africa, although not for the purpose of imperialism. Between the two world wars France and Great Britain had to deal with extremely determined and sometimes violent resistance by both Syrians and Palestinians, while nationalist movements in the Maghreb also mobilized increasing support. Because it always involves the use of power, whether military or economic or some subtler form, imperialism has often been considered morally reprehensible, and the term is frequently employed in international propaganda to denounce and discredit an opponents foreign policy. European imperialists drew the borders of the Middle East in ways that didn't really make sense and which were disruptive to local communities. Berque, Jacques. At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions: Photo of three Middle Eastern leaders from Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Egypt smiling with their hands joined together in the air. These effects lead directly into imperialism and the need to imperialize. Remember! This article, we will provide an overview of British colonialism and imperialism, from the early explorations of the 15th century to its height in the 19th century. Edward Said the author of Orientalism said that Orientalism was ultimately a political vision of reality whose structure promoted the difference between the familiar (Europe, West, "us") and the strange (the Orient, the East, "them"). The nineteenth century was a period of imperialism and tourism that led many western artists to visit West Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Imperialism is a very helpful and productive policy to many countries. New York: Praeger Publishers, 1967. Hurewitz, J. C. The Middle East and North Africa in World Politics, 2d edition. The economic and political systems prevalent in South Asia were backward. International organizations, including the United Nations, attempt to maintain peace using measures such ascollective securityarrangements and aid to developing countries. As Ferguson said, "everybody did empire" (2011). In the late nineteenth century, a new canal in Egypt reshaped global networks. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Sherif Husein, the leader of the Arab Revolt was promised a separate state after the war but was betrayed. Dr. Lalvani is one of the few who believe that imperialism was beneficial, Imperialism was all about power, because whether it was militarily or economically, the country taking over needed ascendancy to assert their influence and control onto another. Many Americans think that Middle Eastern conflicts are inevitable and based on ancient religious disputes. Other Islamic activist movements have, to varying degrees, shared hostility or suspicion of the West as an imperialist force. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Imperialism has been the strongest force this past century; Enslaving natives, while obliterating civilizations. DEFINITIONS It is interesting to note that the division of the Fertile Crescent into Syria, Lebanon, Transjordan, Iraq and Palestine were more based on strategic interests or oil. The third group of arguments has to do with strategy and security. gharbzadegi; However, British interests in the region were not just for strategic reasons like the lifeline to India. By the early twentieth century, it was fairly certain that the region had the largest oil reserves in the world. British interest in doing away with the Ottomans led to the mobilization of large groups in the Arabian peninsula against the Empire. British imperialism had many positive and negative effects on India. Imperialism impacted societies in countless negative ways. This was the view held, for instance, by Vladimir Lenin and N.I. The Age of Imperialism took place between 1800-1914. With the end of the slave trade from Africa to most of Europe, as well as countries like Italy and Germany settling, Africa became a prime piece of real estate for European countries. One of the things lost in the imperialistic age was the indigenous cultures of the countries that were imperialized. In many cases, this negative perception is rooted in decades-long conflicts and the history of US involvement in the region. ETYMOLOGIES AND HISTORIES Monroe, Elizabeth. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Imperialism is sometimes justified because sometimes other nations can help the more needy nations, but other times it is just complete chaos. Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa. Imperialism has greatly shaped the contemporary world. But in the course of their development, they also benefitted the people of the colonies. They introduced improved medical care and better methods of sanitation in the colonies. They introduced new technology and paved the way for modernization. Imperialism was a negative event that happened to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. Former colonies, and countries retaining sovereignty, regrouped, gathered national together with a new sense of national unity, and joined the new global system of nation-state diplomacy. And they had to account for new kinds of imperialism, which no longer had a European face. Their goal was to gain the most wealth and to have the most territory. Chapter Two: Faith and Religious Identity. In Iran, Jalal Al-e Ahmad's concept of gharbzadegi or "Westoxication" contributed to the explicitly anti-Western character of the 1979 revolution. Economic collapse, war, forced migration and famine carved new contours into the region we now know as the Middle East, and created new cultural identities. The recourse to foreign ideologies like fascism, socialism and secularism was seen as un-Islamic and totally condemned by radical sects. America used this approach as an intimidator to get economic growth, expand their political power, spread of the cultures religion, and build military and naval bases. Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices. Even though between 1500 and 1800, the Europeans only had influences on the Americas, by the 1800s, the Europeans were strengthened not only in their military, but also in their economy due to them being imperialists in Africa and Asia. The British suppression of the revolt in Iraq by force worsened the situation. They both challenged British economic imperialism. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. . On the right is a zoomed-in portion of the map that shows the Suez Canal and how it connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas. The weakness in their view is that historical evidence does not support it and that it fails to explain precapitalist imperialism and communist imperialism. During this time, Europe played a big role and was a major world leader. Map of the globe with countries that make up the Middle East highlighted in green. Speaking of drawing lines, let's take a look at World War I, European colonialism, and how the modern Middle East came to be. Further stimulus for resistance to Western imperialism came in 1993 from Samuel Huntington's article "The Clash of Civilizations" in the influential journal Foreign Affairs. The term "the Middle East" is itself a British colonial invention. The anti-imperialism of the Balkan secessionists eventually affected the Armenian Christians of Anatolia and more slowly gained headway in Arab nationalist circles after 1900. You should be looking at the title, author, headings, pictures, and opening sentences of paragraphs for the gist. It is important to recognize that nation-states of the Middle East do not accurately represent the cultural identities of all their inhabitants. He ruled the land not as a colony but as his own. Some scholars argue that this process intensified imperial rivalries and helped provoke World War I. imperialism, state policy, practice, or advocacy of extending power and dominion, especially by direct territorial acquisition or by gaining political and economic control of other areas. Most also claim that they helped the countries they were imperializing, but the Europeans were actually hurting them. Direct European control faded in the 1950s, but informal colonialism continued to shape regional politics. Imperialism is when a country or civilization swallows another country for its land, labor, and raw materials with influence or military force. Amin, Samir. During the Second World War, the American military adopted and popularized the term. Leaders in decolonizing nations had to be strategic in order to survive. The East India Company gradually became rulers from traders and eventually dominated the whole of India. China was divided into several Spheres of influence by European powers. Others say that North Africa and Central Asia are included. . The language, the clothing, the infrastructures all have been affected by imperialism. Industrialization insured lasting political power for rich and powerful, Even though it has been over sixty years since Myanmar was imperialized, remnants of the outcome of imperialism can still be well observed. Africa is home to countless resources including cocoa, diamonds, as well as metals such as iron and copper. Many European countries had set up their colonies in many parts of the world such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Imperialism is the state policy, practice, or advocacy of extending power and dominion, especially by direct territorial acquisition or by gaining political and economic control of other territories and peoples. Those who deny the value of imperialism for these purposes point out that security is not thereby achieved. A few of the most important positive effects of the I.R. Schools and hospitals were built. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. In imperialism, the stronger countries took over the weaker countries and used them for their resources which improved their economy. One of the most far-reaching consequences of Western imperialism is the shift of status and position of women in the Middle East. The army coup that terminated British control of Egypt in 1952 was followed by the Suez War in 1956 in which Britain, in alliance with France and Israel, attempted to regain control of the Suez Canal. Said, Edward. The communities living in many of these territories would not gain independence until after World War II. Instead of being their own country, they are the epigone of another. 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