Simon Sebag Montefiore: How the Modern Middle East Was Made
About this episode
Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses the complexities of the modern Middle East and the historical influences that shaped it.
In this Conflicted Conversation, Simon Sebag Montefiore returns to the show, this time to talk about his new book The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East. Simon explains: How Britain and France tried — and often failed — to shape the post-Ottoman Middle East Why Sykes–Picot is a misleading shorthand for the region’s modern borders How Atatürk, Nasser and other Middle Eastern leaders remade the region through their own choices The violent shift from Ottoman pluralism to nationalist, more homogeneous states Why Nasser’s charisma produced a powerful Arab myth but a disastrous authoritarian model Why traditional monarchies in Morocco, Jordan and the Gulf often outlasted revolutionary republics How America became the Middle East’s dominant anti-imperial imperial power after Europe’s retreat Why militias, parastates and insurgencies make “total victory” in today’s Middle East so elusive Find Simon on X: x.com/simonmontefiore Visit Simon’s website: www.simonsebagmontefiore.com Join the Conflicted Community here: https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm/ Find us on X…
People in this episode
Guest: Simon Sebag Montefiore
Topics covered
- Middle East history
- nationalism
- Ottoman Empire
- authoritarianism
- Arab leadership
- geopolitical dynamics
Keywords
- Middle East
- Sykes-Picot
- Ottoman pluralism
- Arab myth
- authoritarian model
- revolutionary republics
- anti-imperial power
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Britain, France
Books & works: The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East
Places: Morocco, Jordan, Gulf, Middle East, Europe
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