Colonialism and Imperialism

Where it surfaces

• Seven Pillars of Wisdom

  The chapter touches on the complex relationship between Arab aspirations and British imperial interests.

• Introduction: Foundations of Revolt

  British imperial strategy manipulates Arab aspirations for its own wartime goals.

• IV

  Lawrence describes Turkish rule as a 'slow death' for Arabs, stripping them of goods and spirit, and later contrasts it with European colonial ambitions.

• VI

  Lawrence critiques British imperial policy in Mesopotamia, contrasting it with Allenby's approach in Syria, and highlights the detrimental effect of treating the region as a colony.

• VII

  The chapter highlights imperial rivalries and bureaucratic infighting among British and French officials, undermining the Arab Revolt and treating it as a pawn in larger geopolitical games.

• VIII

  British and Arab negotiations over military support reveal imperial dynamics, with the British reluctant to commit troops and the Arabs seeking aid on their own terms.

• XII

  The slave economy and the role of African labor in the Hejaz reflect colonial and imperial structures.

• XIII

  British and Egyptian involvement in the Arab revolt, with tensions between local needs and external support.

• XIV

  Arabs fear British territorial ambitions; Feisal reflects on Britain's hunger for desolate lands.

• XVI

  Lawrence's memorandum accuses Bremond of pursuing French colonial interests under the guise of military necessity, highlighting imperial rivalries.

• XVII

  British officers direct the Arab war effort, with Lawrence sent to link Feisal to British interests and notify Egypt of his needs.

• XXI

  Bremond's plan to use Allied troops to control the Arab Revolt and the Sykes-Picot agreement reflect colonial ambitions, opposed by Lawrence's vision of Arab independence.

• XXIII

  European advisers like Vickery dismiss Arab capabilities; Lawrence reflects on the blindness of European advisers to the nature of rebellion.

• XXVIII

  Bremond's political maneuvering to use military aid as a lever for French influence in Arabia exemplifies imperial rivalries and the manipulation of the Arab revolt for colonial ends.

• Book V: Marking Time

  Feisal's transfer to Allenby's command highlights the complex alliance between Arab nationalists and British imperial forces.

• LVI

  British military bureaucracy and control over Arab resources (e.g., gold, supplies) reflect imperial dynamics in the region.

• LVII

  The British command structure and the transfer of Feisal to Allenby's sphere illustrate imperial coordination and the subordination of Arab forces to Allied strategy.

• LVIII

  Lawrence analyzes the Ottoman and European influences on Syria's diverse populations, including German-inspired Jewish colonies and Circassian settlers loyal to the Turks.

• LIX

  Discussion of how Arab government in Syria would be 'imposed' like Turkish rule or a foreign protectorate, and the selfishness of great powers toward unarmed races.

• LX

  British support for the Arab Revolt, including arms, training, and air raids, reflects imperial interests in undermining the Ottoman Empire.

• LXX

  The Arab Movement operates under Allenby's authority, reflecting British imperial control over the revolt.

• XCI

  The War Cabinet's strategic decisions and Allenby's command reflect British imperial interests in the Middle East.

• XCVII

  British officials like Wingate and Allenby exert financial and military pressure on King Hussein to align with Allied plans.

• CVIII

  Reflections on Roman frontier cities and the transience of imperial power in the desert.

• CXIX

  The negotiations between Lawrence and Chauvel over the flag and the formal entry reveal underlying tensions between Arab self-rule and British imperial control.