British Sinai : its geopolitical significance in the Middle East and its strategic role in British colonial policy
The focus of this thesis is to assess the strategic role and geopolitical significance of the Sinai peninsula in the Middle East in general and its importance for British colonial policy in particular. As Egypt became progressively more autonomous from the Ottoman Empire during the nineteenth century the question of territorial sovereignty arose, which moved the Sinai Peninsula from being a barren stretch of desertâ with little economic value within the Ottoman Empire to becoming a disputed boundary region. The construction of the Suez Canal and its subsequent control by European powers, headed by Britain, further highlighted its strategic position. This led to a series of successful diplomatic efforts on the side of Britain, which had occupied Egypt by 1882, to include the peninsula within the boundaries of Egypt. After the military confrontation with Turkey during the First World War, and the subsequent breaking up of the Ottoman Empire, an international boundary separating Sinai from Palestine was established. Egypt became officially independent in 1922. However British control of the Sinai Peninsula continued until well after the Second World War. This thesis demonstrates the importance of Sinai for
Zaki-Khalil, Karim
Egypt
British Sinai : its geopolitical significance in the Middle East and its strategic role in British colonial policy. The focus of this thesis is to assess the strategic role and geopolitical significance of the Sinai peninsula in the Middle East in general and its importance for British colonial policy in particular. As Egypt became progressively more autonomous from the Ottoman Empire during the nineteenth century the question of territorial sovereignty arose, which moved the Sinai Peninsula from being a barren stretch of desertâ with little economic value within the Ottoman Empire to becoming a disputed boundary region. The construction of the Suez Canal and its subsequent control by European powers, headed by Britain, further highlighted its strategic position. This led to a series of successful diplomatic efforts on the side of Britain, which had occupied Egypt by 1882, to include the peninsula within the boundaries of Egypt. After the military confrontation with Turkey during the First World War, and the subsequent breaking up of the Ottoman Empire, an international boundary separating Sinai from Palestine was established. Egypt became officially independent in 1922. However British control of the Sinai Peninsula continued until well after the Second World War. This thesis demonstrates the importance of Sinai for
british sinai geopolitical significance middle_east strategic role british_colonial policy focus ass strategic role geopolitical significance sinai peninsula middle_east general importance british_colonial policy particular egypt become progressively autonomous ottoman_empire question territorial sovereignty arose move sinai peninsula stretch desert little economic value within ottoman_empire become dispute boundary region construction suez_canal subsequent control european_power head britain highlight strategic position lead series successful diplomatic effort side britain occupy egypt include peninsula within_boundary egypt military confrontation turkey first_world_war subsequent breaking ottoman_empire international boundary sinai palestine establish egypt become officially independent however british control sinai peninsula continue well second_world_war demonstrate_importance sinai