Overview

Sicker examines the early stages of the process by which Palestine, an obscure and relatively miniscule backwater of the Ottoman Empire, became a critical factor in the history and convoluted politics of the modern Middle East. In doing this, he describes relevant aspects of the history of Palestine in the little known and poorly understood period from the Napoleonic intrusion in the Middle East to the end of the Ottoman Empire and the beginnings of British rule. Developments in this period are analyzed within the geopolitical context of the rivalries among the great European powers that were decisive factors in the modern history of the entire Middle East. During this period the emergence of a Jewish nationalist movement abroad served as a catalyst for the social and economic transformation of Palestine prior to the British entry into the area during World War I. It involved the unique attempt to reify the national aspirations of a people who, for the most part, lived outside the territory toward which those aspirations were directed. It also represented the previously unprecedented involvement of representatives of nongovernmental organizations in serious international political negotiations. How Palestine was reshaped by the various forces acting upon it during the period discussed is a key to understanding the subsequent history of the area. An important guide for students, scholars, and general readers interested in the Middle East generally and Palestine in particular.

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9780275966393

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.,. a pleasant read for an underclassman at the undergraduate level to understand political Ziionism and the development and evolution of the Jewish presence in Palestine as it evolved into Israel. -Journal of Third World Studies

Author Information

MARTIN SICKER is a private consultant who has served as a senior executive in the U.S. government and has taught political science at American University and George Washington University. Dr. Sicker has written extensively in the fields of political science and international affairs, he is the author of nine previous books, including Israel's Quest for Security (Praeger, 1989) and The Judaic State (Praeger, 1988).

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