The Modern Arab State: Contexts and Distortions

Summary

The study sheds light on some aspects of the modern Arab state’s crisis related to the circumstances of the moment of birth, on the occasion of the centennial of some of the foundational events of this moment, such as the “Hussein-McMahon Correspondence”, the “Sykes-Picot” accords, and the outbreak of the “Great Arab Revolution”, during the past one hundred years. The study concludes that this form of political organization in the Arab region during the last century has been characterized, in general, by lack of effectiveness, represented in: absence of political stability and spread of authoritarianism and dictatorship, a chronic crisis in political legitimacy, deterioration of economic development projects, spread of social injustices, and inability to achieve national independence or defense of national security effectively, depending on regional and international powers.