Worldmaking in the Long Great War: How Local and Colonial Struggles Shaped the Modern Middle East

The book "Worldmaking in the Long Great War" has received recognition from the American Political Science Association, the American Sociological Association, and the International Studies Association, among others. It offers a new perspective on the Middle East's political history, arguing that the Great War played a significant role in shaping the region's political order. The book explores the complex power struggles between local and international actors and highlights the role of state-building projects and identity transformations in the region.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 09 August 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

The political complexities of the Middle East can be traced back to the aftermath of World War I, when European colonial powers imposed arbitrary borders on the post-Ottoman world in postwar agreements. This book presents a fresh perspective on how the Great War reshaped the political landscape of the region. Spanning from Morocco to Iran and encompassing the period leading up to the outbreak of the war and extending into the 1930s, it reveals the intricate power struggles that shaped the modern Middle East.

Jonathan Wyrtzen delves into how the war unleashed new possibilities for both European and local actors to envision post-Ottoman futures. Despite the conclusion of the 1914–1918 war, violent conflicts persisted across the region as competing political visions clashed. These prolonged struggles ultimately forged a new Middle East. Wyrtzen highlights the interconnectedness of local and colonial projects and the mutually reinforcing processes that led to the formation of states, the transformation of identities, and the delineation of boundaries. This comprehensive book encompasses successful state-building endeavors, such as the establishment of the Turkish Republic and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as short-lived political entities, including the Rif Republic in Morocco, the Sanusi state in eastern Libya, a Greater Syria, and the Atte.

Weight: 484g
Dimension: 148 x 227 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231186292