Assess the Impact of British Intervention 1914-1921 on the Growth of Arab Nationalism in the Ensuing Decade?

Assess the impact of British intervention 1914-1921 on the growth of Arab nationalism in the ensuing decade?

When the British intervened with the Arab world they made a massive impact on Arab nationalism between 1914-1921 and in the ensuing decade, Khalidi says Arab nationalism is “a child of the intellectual atmosphere of the 19th century and one of many responses to the process of incorporation of the world into a single system with Europe at its centre, Arab nationalism fully developed represented an expression of identity and group solidarity”(8). Intervention is defined, as “interference in a state affairs by another” and Britain were a part of a series of events that impacted upon the affairs in the Arab world. I have used contemporary sources Balfour declaration and Hussein-McMahon correspondence along with secondary sources to form my argument on the impacts on Arab nationalism in the ensuing decade. These sources had profound effects on the Middle East with showing the British’s unreliability, which drove anti-colonialism to join anti-Zionism as Arabs common theme of hatred. They were not the only impact as World War one had highly important effects on the world at these times as well, but this is not to take the blame of the British for the growth.

The Balfour declaration is the most significant event in the growth of Arab nationalism in the ensuing decade; its very controversial effects on the Arab world are so great they still continue on today which start with betrayal of the Hussein-McMahon correspondence. Once the British overthrew the Ottomans they release this declaration which states “his majesty’s government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people”(1), this is not just the worst thing that could happen in Arab eyes it was also the event that showed the power ruling the Arabs was supporting the enemy and became the start of Anti-colonialism and Anti-imperialist themes. Shlaim says “by a stroke...