Middle East & Islam Chapter 12 - Nationalism

1. Middle East & IslamChapter 12 - Nationalism GLS-220 Dr. Maggio

2. Nationalism • Religion of the modern world? • Desire of a large group of people to create and maintain statehood • To have their own rulers, laws, government institutions • Loyalty to a desired political community • Special characteristics Egypt, Persia

3. Nationalism foreign to Islam • Umma – community of believers • Islam was the sole object of political loyalty • Defend Islamic lands against rulers or peoples of other faiths • All true Muslims are brothers and sisters, regardless of race, language, culture • Clear distinctions Arabs, Persians, Turks • BUT Nationalism should not exist in Islam

4. Influence of Religion • In Middle East, religion has deeply influenced nationalism • Arab nationalism initially included Christians and Jews • Opposition to Christian control in Lebanon • Opposition to Jewish colonization in Palestine (Israel since 1948)

5. Arab Nationalism • Confusion among: • Arab nation(s) • Islamic umma • Such as when an Arab nationalist cause is characterized as a Jihad • Disagreements among Arabs (OPEC) • Disagreements among Muslims (Iran)

6. This Period • Late 1800s • Arabs, Persians, Turks, developing nationalist feelings • Strongly influenced by religion • A reaction to rising western influence and imperialism • Middle Easterners start to learn from Europeans, work like Europeans

7. Views of Government • Middle Easterners start to think that: • Bad governments need not be endured • Individuals have rights • Freedoms from coercive rulers • People form nations • Liberal (liberty) and nationalist ideas adopted by many young Muslims 1870s

8. Three Nationalist Movements • Egyptians • Turks in Ottoman Empire • Persians under the Qajar Shahs

9. Later • Later we will cover: • Arab Nationalism • Nationalism of Christian peoples in the Ottoman Empire such as the Greeks and the Armenians • Zionism

10. Zionism defined • Calls for Israel’s creation as a Jewish state • An ideology that holds that Jews are a people, or a nation • Should gather together in single homeland • Jewish national movement to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine • Christian Evangelicals: Jews return to Israel to hasten the Second Coming of Christ

11. Egyptian Nationalism • “Land of Paradox” • 1540, from L. paradoxum "paradox, statement seemingly absurd yet really true," from Gk. "contrary to expectation, incredible,“– statement that disagrees with itself • Most westernized country Middle East/Mamluks? • Clothing, foods, languages • Cairo, Alexandria, Ismailia, Port Said • Ancient relics monuments, yet very progressive • Straight Avenues, Suez Canal

12. Khedive Ismail1863-1879 • Ottomans ruling Egypt – • Khedive is Governor or Viceroy title granted by the Ottoman Sultan • Built RRs, bridges, docks, canals, factories, sugar refineries • Cotton market, borrowings, taxes • Ran up huge debts 3 M – 93 M pounds p. 189 • Appoints Cabinet to draft a Constitution, like the Ottomans 1876 • Sultan dismisses Ismail 1879, now son Tawfiq

13. Ismail and Nationalism • His success and failures foster nationalist feelings • Drew Egyptians closer together (newspapers) • Institutions and infrastructure he built • Europeans became models for modernization, but also targets of native resentment