Examining the role of European colonialism in the formation of the political order and borders of the Middle East

Abstract

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the colonial rivalries of European powers, especially Britain and France, played a decisive role in drawing the political borders of the Middle East. With the weakening and collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, the victorious powers divided the Arab regions under Ottoman rule by concluding political agreements and treaties, including the Sykes-Picot Agreement and other colonial treaties. This division was made mainly based on the strategic and economic interests of the European powers, and little attention was paid to the historical, cultural and ethnic realities of the societies of the region. This research, using a descriptive-analytical method and library resources, examines the political, strategic and economic processes of European colonialism in the Middle East and analyzes its long-term consequences on the border, ethnic and political crises of the region. The findings show that many of the current borders of the Middle East were drawn based on foreign interests and did not take into account the ethnic and cultural cohesion of the societies. This situation has created long-term conflicts, political instability and security challenges in the region. By presenting historical and analytical evidence, this study highlights the importance of understanding the historical roots of the Middle East crises and shows that without understanding this colonial legacy, the analysis of the region's political and social developments will be incomplete.