The collapse of empires often leads to international powers converging to determine the fate of the region, dividing it into countries and territories that become perpetual battlegrounds, resulting in the loss of millions of innocent lives. These interventions typically benefit the interests of major colonial powers, particularly Britain, France, Italy, Germany, and imperial Russia. The Berlin Conference of 1884-85, for instance, orchestrated the 'Scramble for Africa,' dividing the continent among various imperial colonizers and contributing to ongoing conflicts in independent African nations like South Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Similar arbitrary line-drawing occurred in South Asia by the British, resulting in the partition of India and Pakistan, leading to enduring conflicts. In the Middle East, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1922, the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916 shaped the region's future, setting the stage for conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict.
The Ottoman Empire, which originated in the 13th century in the Black Sea Region of present-day Turkey under Osman I, expanded across three continents. However, it faced challenges, including alliances with Austria and Germany in World War I and the Armenian genocide. After the war, the fate of Turkey was decided by the British and French, represented by Mark Sykes and François Georges-Picot. They divided the Asian remnants of the Ottoman Empire into spheres of influence, with French control over parts of Syria and Iraq, and British influence in Palestine, Transjordan, and Iraq.
The Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916 shaped the geopolitical landscape, and although territories remained relatively calm for decades, conflicts resurfaced, notably during World War II, leading to the creation of the State of Israel. The post-World War II era saw the ongoing repercussions of these decisions, particularly the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The issue of Israel's claim to the region has been a persistent problem, leading to an international sphere of influence for Palestine. The Greater Armenian region in eastern Turkey and parts of Kurdistan fell under Russian influence. The Lausanne Agreement of 1923 replaced the previous Treaty of Sèvres, defining the modern borders of Turkey.
The technological and governance superiority of Western powers allowed them to influence and control countries' destinies after the dissolution of their parent empires. International laws and the complexities of restoring territories prevent countries from reverting to their former borders, resulting in disorder, anarchy, and societal disturbances, leading to unstable governments.
Germany stands out as the only recent example of successful reunification, occurring in 1990 between the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany. However, for many other regions, the possibility of unification or border realignment seems unlikely, perpetuating unrest and instability. The events in the Levant, including Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine, cannot be reversed, emphasizing the enduring impact of colonial decisions.
The map below depicts Turkey in 1916, delineating boundaries according to the Sykes-Picot agreement.
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