King Abdullah, Britain and the Making of Jordan

ISBN-13: 9780521399876 / Angielski / Miękka / 1990 / 312 str.

Mary C. Wilson

Opis

Because of his role in the partition of Palestine, King Abdullah has always been one of the most controversial figures in modern Middle Eastern history. This book is the first in-depth description and analysis of the historical and personal circumstances that made him so significant. Abdullah, a son of the Sharif of Mecca and a member of the Ottoman elite, emerged after the First World War as a contender for power in a Middle East dominated by Britain owing to his alliance with Britain in the Arab revolt. To his disappointment, he ended up in the arid territory of Transjordan. Within the constraints of British interests, he was left to make something of his lot. Since Transjordan had little to draw on to resist total dominance by Britain, Abdullah spent the remainder of his life looking for a role, a clientele, or a stable balance of interests that would allow him a future independent of British fortunes. He found all three after 1948 when, in conjunction with the creation of Israel, he came to rule the portion of Palestine known as the West Bank.

Recenzje

'Mary Wilson has produced a painstakingly well-researched political biography of Abdullah which seeks to reassess the man and politician and place him in the context of his time. In doing so, she has challenged the conventional wisdom of Abdullah as a wise, astute and benign figure. It is little wonder that her book is being avidly read and argued over in Jordan today.' Middle East International

Spis treści

List of illustrations; List of maps; Note on transliteration; Acknowledgements; 1. Prologue; 2. Mecca and Istanbul; 3. The Arab revolt; 4. The creation of Transjordan; 5. Settling in; 6. Discovering the limits; 7. Abdullah and Palestine, 1921–39; 8. War and politics; 9. Abdullah, Britain and the Arab world, 1945–8; 10. 1948; 11. The end of ambition; 12. Epilogue; Appendix I: British high commissioners of Palestine; Appendix II: British residents in Transjordan; Appendix III: Prime ministers of Transjordan; Notes; Bibliography; Index.