Self-Determination and Arab Nationalism

Self-Determination and Arab Nationalism

Felicia Whatley

       Self-determination in the Middle East by the U.S. means to give the Middle East countries a free choice of one’s own acts without external interference and the freedom of the citizens’ of a given territory to determine their own political status. It is the right of the Arab people of a nation to decide how they want to be governed without the influence of the U.S.

This period of minimal U.S. involvement in the Middle East came to an end after World War II, as the United States undertook expanded worldwide commitments and acquired three major interests in the Middle East region: maintaining access to the region’s oil resources, blocking Soviet attempts to achieve hegemony in the Middle East, and safeguarding the security of the newly created state of Israel. Pursuit of these interests compelled the United States to become an active player in Middle East affairs and adopt periodically conflicting policies that were sometimes resented in the region, http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/rl31232.pdf.

Self determination works in theory but not in practice because the U.S. is involved politically with the Middle East because it is a complicated concept with conflicting definitions and legal criteria for determining which groups may legitimately claim the right to self-determination. Douglas Little in American Orientalism explained that the U.S. has interfered with some Middle Eastern countries because America felt their security was threatened. The war on Terror exemplifies why we invaded Iraq and Afghanistan.

 Turkey is unique in the fact that we have bases there, but we exist in their country as an Allie via invitation. But they had qualms with us using their airspace for the war in Iraq because they distain the Kurds.

The United States has helped develop Egypt and Jordan through economic and military assistance. Oil rich counties in the Persian Gulf are dependent on the U.S. as we are dependent on them. Where as, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iranians find Americans’ presence, due to the invasions, considered us as “occupiers or oppressors”.

Woodrow Wilson’s “14 Points Speech” outlines U.S.’s intent to not interfere with other countries abilities to self govern. He did not want to debilitate other countries through sanctions. “It is this happy fact, now clear to the view of every public man whose thoughts do not still linger in an age that is dead and gone, which makes it possible for every nation whose purposes are consistent with justice and the peace of the world to avow nor or at any other time the objects it has in view,” said Wilson.

This is very different from President George W. Bush when he said “You are either with us or against us.” That statement invoked much anti-sentiment for Anti-Americanism and conflicted with Arab Nationalism. We were viewed as imperialists.

Nationalism is defined as an ideology, a sentiment, a form of culture, or a social movement that comes from within a nation. Nationalism is a type of thought emphasizing the majority of a specific nation. Even though, there is significant debate over the historical origins of nations, most academics accept that nationalism is an ideology and social movement built on ideals of sovereignty. In the Middle East, countries fight over the ideal that the Palestinians should have a sovereign state and whether or not Israel should be a Jewish state. Just the fact that America is an ally with Israel makes the surrounding Arab nations hate us.

Self-determination is a factor in how we run operations in Iraq. We are training Iraqi Security to lay down the law and defend their own nation. When Saddam Hussein was captured by the Americans, he was quickly handed over to the Iraqi people to figure out what they wanted to do with him. Though Americans are credited for capturing him, his own country had a tribunal and hung him. This sent the message that Americans feel that self-determination is an important factor in how we run operations in the Middle East.

There is still a lot of nationalism in the Middle East. The Arab citizens are taught to hate us and are trained that they will receive much honor religiously if they kill Americans. Osama bin Laden launches hate videos and Iran’s dictator Mahmoud Ahmadinejad retorts “Death to Americans.” Many countries in the Middle East despise Americans because of various international policies and interference in the Middle Eastern countries. Many of those countries are funded by terrorism and are not trusted by the United States.

“Non-Arab Iran had its own version of secular nationalism which was effectively stunted in 1953 when groups loyal to the late Shah led a counter-coup (with U.S. and British support) against the left-leaning Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh. Twenty-five years later Iran’s leading Islamist, the late Ayatollah Rouhallah Khomeni, proved more successful in bringing about the overthrow of the Shah’s pro-western regime.” (Peter Ford, “Why do they hate us?”, The Christian Science Monitor, September 27, 2001),

The U.S. has exerted force in Pakistan. Pakistan has a defunct failed government with nuclear weapons which has had difficulty defending its self from various militias and terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda. Many known terrorists have fled Afghanistan and have attempted to hide in Pakistan. It is thought that Osama bin Laden may be hiding in Pakistan.

The instability in this region has forced the United States to override Pakistan’s self-determination to attack the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. America’s government is so concerned about the terrorism in this region that they have had drills on what to do if the terrorists get a hold of Pakistani’s nuclear weapons. This is a prime example when America’s fear of security issues takes precedence over self-determination.

America’s intent to allow the Middle Eastern countries to have self-determination does have a heavy impact on our policies in the Middle East. It is important for the U.S. to promote and be sensitive of Arab nationalism, customs, heritage, and beliefs. Soldiers must take cultural and language awareness courses before deploying there and be respective for the host countries. It is important to be as diplomatic as possible and convey the message of empathy towards the civilians. Good international relations are important to creating a successful mission.