From the fifteenth century to the latter half of the twentieth century, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region experienced substantial transformation due to European colonization, notably by Portugal, Spain, Britain, France, and Italy. These powers sought to exploit the region’s economic resources, establish strategic settlements, and assert political dominance. For example, Portugal, Britain, and France in Africa often manipulated territorial boundaries to create divisions within communities, undermining local resistance to colonial rule. By redrawing borders, colonial powers fractured cohesive societies, leaving a legacy of sociopolitical fragmentation that persists today. While MENA countries gradually gained independence from the early 1920s to the 1980s, the region remained significantly affected by colonial legacies. European-imposed borders often forced disparate ethnic and religious groups into shared territories, sidelining similar communities, and provoking resource-based conflicts. Britain and France restructured borders that heightened ethnic and religious tensions, resulting in long-lasting economic, political, and social challenges. A prominent example of colonial repercussions is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Stemming from unfulfilled promises during the Ottoman Empire’s dissolution, this conflict has since strained relations among Muslims, Christians, and Jews, with profound regional and global implications. The fall of the Ottoman Empire in the early twentieth century further intensified Western influence in the MENA region. To secure control over key areas, Western powers exacerbated religious and ethnic divisions, particularly in Lebanon, where sectarian divides were politicized. While the United States was less involved in direct colonization, its post-colonial actions were significant. American interventions aimed to maintain access to oil, encourage political reforms favoring US interests, and support existing authoritarian structures, particularly during the Arab Spring of 2010–2011. Two significant colonial decisions, the Balfour Declaration and the Sykes-Picot Agreement, further complicated the MENA geopolitical landscape. These agreements overlooked promises to Arab communities, sparking events like the 1936 Arab Rebellion and intensifying mistrust toward Western powers. British policy failures, including inadequate management of rising Zionist settlements and the unfulfilled declaration of a Palestinian state in 1939, added layers of complexity and tension, fueling disputes that continue to affect the region. In recent decades, British and French influence in MENA has diminished, while Russia’s involvement has oscillated. Russia was highly active in the region until the late 1960s, especially during President Nasser’s tenure in Egypt. Although the USSR’s presence waned post-1980s and ceased almost entirely after its dissolution in 1990, Russia has since re-emerged in the MENA landscape alongside China, Turkey, and Iran. China’s rising influence is particularly notable, as it pursues a different approach from the region’s historical alliances. China’s recent mediation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, along with financial and technical aid initiatives, underscores its growing impact, which is increasingly counterbalancing the United States’ traditional dominance in MENA geopolitics.

Colonial Past and Current Ruling Systems

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发表日期：

2025年

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Keshav Bhattarai,
Mahmoud Yousef

摘要

From the fifteenth century to the latter half of the twentieth century, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region experienced substantial transformation due to European colonization, notably by Portugal, Spain, Britain, France, and Italy. These powers sought to exploit the region’s economic resources, establish strategic settlements, and assert political dominance. For example, Portugal, Britain, and France in Africa often manipulated territorial boundaries to create divisions within communities, undermining local resistance to colonial rule. By redrawing borders, colonial powers fractured cohesive societies, leaving a legacy of sociopolitical fragmentation that persists today. While MENA countries gradually gained independence from the early 1920s to the 1980s, the region remained significantly affected by colonial legacies. European-imposed borders often forced disparate ethnic and religious groups into shared territories, sidelining similar communities, and provoking resource-based conflicts. Britain and France restructured borders that heightened ethnic and religious tensions, resulting in long-lasting economic, political, and social challenges. A prominent example of colonial repercussions is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Stemming from unfulfilled promises during the Ottoman Empire’s dissolution, this conflict has since strained relations among Muslims, Christians, and Jews, with profound regional and global implications. The fall of the Ottoman Empire in the early twentieth century further intensified Western influence in the MENA region. To secure control over key areas, Western powers exacerbated religious and ethnic divisions, particularly in Lebanon, where sectarian divides were politicized. While the United States was less involved in direct colonization, its post-colonial actions were significant. American interventions aimed to maintain access to oil, encourage political reforms favoring US interests, and support existing authoritarian structures, particularly during the Arab Spring of 2010–2011. Two significant colonial decisions, the Balfour Declaration and the Sykes-Picot Agreement, further complicated the MENA geopolitical landscape. These agreements overlooked promises to Arab communities, sparking events like the 1936 Arab Rebellion and intensifying mistrust toward Western powers. British policy failures, including inadequate management of rising Zionist settlements and the unfulfilled declaration of a Palestinian state in 1939, added layers of complexity and tension, fueling disputes that continue to affect the region. In recent decades, British and French influence in MENA has diminished, while Russia’s involvement has oscillated. Russia was highly active in the region until the late 1960s, especially during President Nasser’s tenure in Egypt. Although the USSR’s presence waned post-1980s and ceased almost entirely after its dissolution in 1990, Russia has since re-emerged in the MENA landscape alongside China, Turkey, and Iran. China’s rising influence is particularly notable, as it pursues a different approach from the region’s historical alliances. China’s recent mediation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, along with financial and technical aid initiatives, underscores its growing impact, which is increasingly counterbalancing the United States’ traditional dominance in MENA geopolitics.