The impact of the European colonization of the Middle East on Modern Arab societies
Introduction
As we go back to the time gone by and in the history of the Middle East region at large, there are many interesting themes to explore upon, be it, the culture, tradition or a combination of both these two. But the most interesting face in the history of the Middle East region can be limited to the Arab society at large, which we feel are rich in culture and tradition despite outsiders influence in the time gone by.
A general outlook and study on the most fascinating insights that we can reaped of the Arab world in the middle age no doubt can be absorbed from the most fabled literature of the time, ‘The Arabian nights‘, which is a literary collection of stories, folk tales, etc, and as historian puts it, was compiled during the Islamic golden era. Add to it, among a large group of readers and literature enthusiasts, ‘The Arabian Nights’ grabs the attention among all group of readers, given the rich literary collection in its fold, which mirrors the Arab society in the middle age.
Above all reasons, it is also a common knowledge that the Middle East region which comprises parts of the Arab world have been under the influence during the rule of European colonies, or as we call it in general terms, European colonization that uprooted and expanded its hold in the region during the middle age which lasted till the mid 19th century.
Proposal issue
It is a fact acknowledged that the spread of European colonialism in the mid 15th and 16th century by and large is tremendously captured in the literature written during that era. Add to it, the word ‘colonization’ also has raised many debate and discussion in the academic circles, especially in the subaltern and post-colonial literatures which mirrors the facts and impact – both of which are constructive and destructive because of European colonization.
Hence, to start with herein, we mirrors back the rich civilization that the Arab world is known for during the middle age, not that of the fables or folks tales as can be read in ‘The Arabian Nights‘, but the facts that remains on the theme concerning European colonization of the Middle East region. And in that front what concerns the core study and analysis overall can be laid emphasis to the penetration of the European colonialism in the Middle East region and its impact in the Arab society in particular.
Thus, it is to clarify from the outset that through this proposal, the attempt of this work is to relate and explore on the most important facets on the notion of ‘European colonization in the Middle East and its impact in modern Arab societies.‘ However, before we raised the bar in that front through an in-depth discussion and analysis, it is crucial that we understand the idea behind colonization, which is one significant basis to understand the ‘subject matter’ and its arguments at large, which is as follows.
The idea of colonization of the Middle East region
The idea of colonization as one scholar has put it can be described as a theme in which, “colonization is look upon and understood to be associated with the occupation of the foreign land, with colonization being brought under cultivation, with the settlement of colonies.” (Ferro, 1997, p. 1)
Thus, from this short comprehension aforementioned, we can understand what colonization is all about in reflection, and at times, the idea of colonization also have been argued to be interrelated with imperialism, or crusaders and any other term in that bracket, which signify the rule of European imperialism in the third world countries and nation states in the mid-seventeenth and eighteenth century.
Moreover, what is significant to the idea of European colonization of the Middle East as the subject matter calls and can be argued for specifically can be laid emphasis to the history that traces European colonialism in the Middle East region itself, which relates the facts that “by the seventeenth century, the European commercial and political presence in the Middle East region has increased significantly. The direct European colonial rule in the Middle East thus, penetrated the region at the onset when the Ottoman Empire and its rule were declining.” (Stewart, 2008, pp. 87-88)
Hence, from this short analysis and chronology in fragments, the idea of European colonization of the Middle East can be interpreted in simple terms to signify the presence and domination of European power in the Middle East region, where culture, politics and economic development have gone for a change, which we assumed all to have been for the good and bad reasons.
But what comprises Middle East region and its colonization as can be understood in simple meaning of the term labeled so?
In that essence and within the idea of it, scholars have argued that “the term Middle East itself is the outcome of European colonialism, who sought to understand and make sense an order of political, economic, social and cultural relationship in the geographic region that spans from Maghreb to Persia.” (Milton-Edwards, 2006, p. 7)
Thus, the penetration of European colonies in the Middle East region is also focused on that aspects as detailed above in taking leverage of the declining Ottoman Empire and to expand its hold and influence in the region overall, where the attempt of the European colony was to colonized the mindset in all aspects.
Hence, what grew out of it and the debate in that front can be laid emphasis to the impact of European colonization in the Middle East region and the rise of modern Arab societies out of it and its juxtaposition, which is described below.
European colonization of the Middle East and its impact in modern Arab societies
As we are aware that, the interest that grew among “European colonial in the Middle East also can be attributed to have always been a part of its economic enterprise that started in Europe during the industrial revolution. And in that essence and development that took shape in Europe also was inevitable that the impact of it all was to expand its economic integration in the Arabian shores through trade, exchange of technology, etc, and wherein the economic expansion was no doubt accompanied by the political, cultural and social interest in what is known as the Orient among the Europeans.” (Milton-Edwards, 2006, p. 19)
Above all reasons, what is the most interesting notion out of the arguments can be derived from the facts in which it is held that the “European interference in the Middle East was always competitive in a sense that, the French colonies, the British and even the Italian were struggling with each other to secure their own national identities and interest in the region. And scholars have argued that such kind of disposition or its manners in discourse also explains the roots of European colonization and its idea in the Middle East region.” (Milton-Edwards, 2006, p. 17)
But the fact is not clear as to what is the political, economic and social ambition behind the idea of European colonization in the Middle East region, and during the advent of it has raised many notable questions on the impact that European colonization have had in the Middle East, especially in the case that juxtaposes modern Arab society.
For instance, “scholar have also argued that is some cases which were notable during the European colonization and its impact in the Arab society also can be interpreted in a sense where the upheaval of Arab nationalism also took shape during that period, which is one important facets in the development face that mirrors both the constructive and destructive force in both ways,” (Tareq Ismail, 1991, p. 58) and most importantly the impact that European colonization have had on the colonized states of the Middle East
This is what we can interpret on the general aspects of European colonization and its impact in the Middle East at large, however, the questing still remains concerning modern Arab society that can be linked in that bracket, especially the impact of European colonization on language, culture and traditions in the Arab states.
Hence, right from the onset and from what scholars have argued is that, “European colonialism in the Middle East region in the twentieth century was short-lived. Yet the impact it had on the region in its short span of time, especially on the political system is enormous, which till today is still persistent.” (Milton-Edwards, 2006, p. 17) But can we bracket this notion when it concern Arab states in particular, which we feel still holds it traditional cultural heritage despite the influence of European colonization in the mid nineteenth and twentieth century.
Thus, to clarify the above stated thesis and as far as linguistic is concerned, and when we lay our analysis further in that front, especially the notion of European colonization and impact on linguistic in the Middle East, there is some indication that “in many areas where European colonialism have expanded its base and where local languages were not eradicated, they were overlain by European language brought by the colonizer in many countries of the Middle East region, and in that context, bilingual origination also traces its roots as well.” (Duranti, 2006, p. 487) But the facts also remains that “no Arab states have seriously considered any of the language initially proposed by European scholars” (Taher, 1997, p. 255), and in that essence, we come to the conclusion that European cultural and linguistic approaches in the modern Arab states have had little impact.
Add to it, what can be justified through the most interesting feature on the effect of European colonization in the cultural face of modern Arab society can be laid more force to the facts in which it is debated and described that “European efforts to bring about the cultural dominance in the Arab society failed drastically. And in that essence, the Arab states also where quick enough to implement policies just after the independence, which consolidated their cultural identity while modernizing those cultural features which they thought were in need of the time and reaping the benefits thereof without fabricating their cultural and traditional fabric in accommodating European cultural dominance over modern Arab society.” (Taher, 1997, p. 255)
Conclusion
Thus when we take together the subject study and its arguments concerning European colonization and its impact in the Arab society one probable facts come to fore, which is crucial to understand the impact of colonialism in the Arab state.
And in that essence again, it is believed that “the legacy of colonialism in Arab states failed, which some scholars regarded to the case of Maghreb and where Arab nationalism traces its ideology enriched therein that is accorded to have withstood colonialism in all its forms, and that which we can conclude is outcome that structured modern Arab states.” (Hermassi, 1997, p. 54)
Thus, we can conclude further and all in between the debate being raised on the notion of European colonization and its impact and effect on Arab culture, its tradition and language, have had little consequence, which by far can be concluded that colonization in the Arab states in particular have had little relevance whatsoever.
From this notion as stated above and as it can be interpreted in simple terms, we come to generalize that European colonization in itself mirrors a different and unpredictable features then, especially the impact it had in the Middle East which can be termed and debated upon to have been positive and negative in both ways. But we cannot deny the fact in which it is held that political and economic ambition of European colonization was at the roots of their penetration in the Middle East region. But as far as its effect in the Arab states is concerned, it appears that Arab nationalism triumphed over European colonialism, which we finally conclude mirrors the facts of colonialism and its failure in the Arab states in the mid nineteenth and twentieth century.
References
1. Duranti, A. (2006). A companion to linguistic anthropology. Edition.2. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
2. Ferro, M. (1997). Colonization: a global history. London: Routledge.
3. Hermassi, A. (1997). State, Legitimacy, and Democratisation in the Maghreb. In S. E. Ibrahim, Nicholas S. Hopkins, Ed. Arab society: class, gender, power, and development. Edition. 3 (pp. 53-65). New York: American Univ in Cairo Press.
4. Milton-Edwards, B. (2006). Contemporary politics in the Middle East. Edition.2. Cambridge: Polity.
5. Stewart, D. J. (2008). The Middle East Today: Political, Geographical & Cultural Perspectives. New York: Taylor & Francis.
6. Taher, M. (1997). Encyclopaedic survey of Islamic culture. New Delhi: Anmol Publications PVT. LTD.
7. Tareq Ismail, J. S Ismael. (1991). The legacy of Nationalism. In J. S. Ismael, Tareq Y. Ismael, Ed. Politics and government in the Middle East and North Africa (pp. 58-86). Florida: University Press of Florida.