Britain and State Formation in Arabia 19621971
Half a century ago, Britain abandoned Aden, its last colonial outpost in the Arab world as its attempt to establish a new polity foundered amid a rising tide of Arab nationalism, tribal infighting and anti-colonial sentiment that eventually gave rise to the establishment of South Yemen. Yet just over three years later in 1971, a new state, the United Arab Emirates, emerged in Arabia, formed from the old Trucial states over which Britain had long held sway. At a time when state failure and fragmentation has become synonymous with much of the Middle East and where the very idea of sovereignty and legitimacy have become contested issues, this comparative historical study of the varied British attempts at state creation on the Arabian peninsula offers important insights into the limits of external ambition, as well as the possibilities that great power retrenchment offered to the peoples of the region. The legacy of British influence in Aden and Abu Dhabi still very much resonates today; this volume explains why.
This book was originally published as a special issue of Middle Eastern Studies.
Clive Jones is Professor of Middle East Security at Durham University where he specialises in the history and politics of the Gulf and the Arab-Israeli conflict. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and his book, Britain and the Yemen Civil War 19621965 (2004/2010) was the subject of a BBC documentary.
Fifty years after Britain decided to abandon her formal and long-established positions in Aden and the Persian Gulf, it is fitting that this new study should re-examine the reasons for this hasty departure, which was to have such far-reaching effects on local, regional and world affairs. The contributing authors, drawn from both academic and diplomatic backgrounds, have drawn on their archival researches and experiences, to provide much-needed insights into this subject. This volume will be of considerable interest to those seeking an explanation of the nature of Britains final departure from formal empire in the Middle East.
Saul Kelly, Kings College, London
This scholarly and insightful volume is a fascinating addition to the literature on the recent history of a vital region. It shines a new light on the past and is an invaluable aid for those attempting to understand the political, ideological, territorial and military disorder in the region at present.
Rory Miller, Professor of Government, Georgetown University, Qatar
This unique volume, edited by Clive Jones, is a must-read for anyone wanting to have greater insights into the development of states in the Arabian Peninsula. It includes many dimensions of the new realities during a very formative era in Aden, south Arabia and the lower Gulf. Indeed, it offers many new perspectives that will need to be reckoned with by future generations of scholars. In tandem with the state building process in Aden, the UAE and south Arabia, the volume provides a detailed analysis of the role of the British, Arab-British relations and Anglo-American relations. It does a particularly good job of analyzing the interactions between regional and external powers in the region. The volume, which includes the work of such an accomplished line-up of scholars, will be an invaluable resource for any student, researcher or journalist that is looking to have deeper insights into this geo-politically significant region.
Uzi Rabi, Director, The Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies and Professor, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
Britain and State Formation in Arabia 19621971
From Aden to Abu Dhabi
Edited by
Clive Jones
First published 2018
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Contents
Citation Information
The following chapters were originally published in Middle Eastern Studies, volume 53, issue 1 (January 2017). When citing this material, please use the original page numbering for each article, as follows:
Introduction
Aden, South Arabia and the United Arab Emirates: a retrospective study in state failure and state creation
Clive Jones
Middle Eastern Studies, volume 53, issue 1 (January 2017), pp. 25
Chapter 1
A triumph of realism? Britain, Aden and the end of empire, 196467
Aaron Edwards
Middle Eastern Studies, volume 53, issue 1 (January 2017), pp. 618
Chapter 2
The missing link? Police and state-building in South Arabia
James Worrall
Middle Eastern Studies, volume 53, issue 1 (January 2017), pp. 1934
Chapter 3
Explaining the triumph of the National Liberation Front
John Albert Noel Brehony
Middle Eastern Studies, volume 53, issue 1 (January 2017), pp. 3550
Chapter 4
The Nasser factor: Anglo-Egyptian relations and Yemen/Aden crisis 196265.
Robert McNamara
Middle Eastern Studies, volume 53, issue 1 (January 2017), pp. 5168
Chapter 5
The North Yemen civil war and the failure of the Federation of South Arabia
Asher Orkaby
Middle Eastern Studies, volume 53, issue 1 (January 2017), pp. 6983
Chapter 6
Failure and success in state formation: British policy towards the Federation of South Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
Simon C. Smith
Middle Eastern Studies, volume 53, issue 1 (January 2017), pp. 8497
Chapter 7
Anglo-American relations over Aden and the United Arab Emirates, 196771
Tore Petersen
Middle Eastern Studies, volume 53, issue 1 (January 2017), pp. 98111
Chapter 8
