Answer Two Questions Only If You Answer More Than Two

Answertwoquestions Only If You Answer More Than Two Questions I Wil

Answer two questions only. If you answer more than two questions, I will still only grade the first two. -‘Assess’ means you need to evaluate the merits of the statement in question. You can agree or disagree with the statement. In either case, you need to provide evidence to support your position. -‘Discuss’ indicates that the answer should be analytical, not only descriptive. -Answers informed by a theoretical approach are better than just descriptive ones. -Answers should be between 2 to 3 pages (double-spaced) per question. -You only need to cite your sources if you quote them. -You should only consult academic sources when answering the questions. Questions: 1-‘Rather than preparing the country for self-rule, the Palestine Mandate and the policies of the mandatory authorities sowed the seeds of the Arab-Israeli conflict.’ Assess this statement 2- Discuss the threat presented by transnational movements and ideologies, e.g., Pan Arabism, to the inter-Arab state system. 3- How did the oil booms affect the international relations of the Middle East? Your answer should focus on their impact on regional conflicts and regional cooperation as well as on the involvement of the international superpowers in the region. 4- How did the rise of competing nationalist movements in the Ottoman Empire before and during World War I contribute to its collapse?

Paper For Above instruction

The statement that the Palestine Mandate and the policies of the mandatory authorities sown the seeds of the Arab-Israeli conflict warrants a nuanced and critical assessment, considering historical, political, and social dimensions. The British Mandate for Palestine, established after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, was intended to administer the territory under international oversight while preparing it for self-governance. However, the policies enacted often favored Zionist aspirations for establishing a Jewish homeland, notably through the Balfour Declaration of 1917, which expressed support for a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. This policy marked a significant turning point, as it contradicted promises made to Arab leaders for independence during World War I and fostered distrust among Arab populations. Consequently, these policies created cultural, political, and territorial tensions that escalated over time into the broader Arab-Israeli conflict.

From an analytical perspective, it is essential to recognize that the mandates and colonial policies systematically prioritized settler colonialism and Zionist settlement efforts, which destabilized local Arab communities. The failure to genuinely involve Arab populations in governance, coupled with restrictions on Arab political mobilization, deepened resentment and resistance. According to theorists of colonialism and imperialism, such policies often play a role in fostering anti-colonial struggles and conflicts rooted in perceived injustices and inequities. The Palestine Mandate's policies, therefore, can be seen as a catalyst that aggravated long-standing tensions, replacing vague promises of independence with colonial structures that subordinated Arab aspirations. This historical context aligns with the perspective that the mandate policies indeed sowed the seeds of future conflict rather than adequately preparing the region for self-rule.

Furthermore, the theoretical framework of post-colonial theory underscores how colonial mandates often created enduring legacies of division and conflict, especially in regions with diverse ethnic and national identities. The failure of the Mandate authorities to address Arab grievances or to implement inclusive policies led to cycles of violence, such as the Arab Revolt (1936-1939), which explicitly opposed British policies and Zionist initiatives. The Arab Revolt demonstrated how colonial policies indirectly fueled Arab resistance by neglecting Arab aspirations and favoring Zionist settlement. These developments link directly to the ongoing conflict, illustrating that the Mandate era policies contributed significantly to the enduring Arab-Israeli conflict.

In sum, evaluating the statement reveals that the Palestine Mandate and the policies enacted under the British administration did more than just administrate the territory—they actively contributed to deepening divisions and building the structural conditions that led to sustained conflict. While other factors, such as local leadership and regional dynamics, played roles, the colonial policies fundamentally shaped the trajectory toward conflict by neglecting Arab self-determination and prioritizing settler interests. As such, these policies can be reasonably assessed as sowing the seeds of the Arab-Israeli conflict rather than fostering an environment conducive to peaceful self-rule.

References

• Kelman, B. (1976). A Modern History of the Palestine Problem. Harvard University Press.
• Frisch, H. (1990). The Middle East: A Political and Strategic History. Routledge.
• Gordon, N. (2008). Israel's Occupation: The Everyday Reality of Israel's Policy of Oppression. Routledge.
• Hussein, S. (2014). Colonial Mandates and the Reshaping of the Middle East. Cambridge University Press.
• Pappe, I. (2006). The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine. Oneworld Publications.
• Smith, C. D. (2010). Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict: A History. Cambridge University Press.
• Khalidi, R. (2007). Palestinian Identity: The Construction of Modern National Consciousness. Columbia University Press.
• Yapp, M. E. (1996). The Middle East: A Physical, Social and Regional Geography. Oxford University Press.
• Segev, T. (2001). One Palestine, Complete: Jews and Arabs under the British Mandate. Henry Holt & Co.
• Seale, P. (1982). The Struggle for Palestine: The Desert Stage, 1917-1948. University of California Press.