Elie Kedourie a kapitoly britské politiky na Blízkém východě

Abstract

Western influence on the Middle East is a theme that deservedly attracts attention of many scientists from various fields of study. Many theories with regard to the modern political history of the region have been produced and discussed. One of the authors that came out with an influential concept was Edward Said. In his critique of Orientalism (Orientalism, 1978), Said focuses on Western conceptions of the Middle East and its outcomes. The book became worldwide famous for its direct assault on Western society and its imperial politics. An influential attitude is taken by another prominent scientist, Bernard Lewis, who represents an opposition to Said´s opinion. This survey is geared towards presenting the work of Baghdad-born British historian Elie Kedourie, who maintains with regard to given topic very interesting position as well. In the course of his career Kedourie mainly focused on modern Middle Eastern history, with a consideration to British political influence in the region. Kedourie tried to analyse factors which brought Ottoman Empire to decline and Middle Eastern region to general long-lasting crisis. In his writings Kedourie questioned the matter of suitability of Ottoman reforms based on European examples. He also occupied himself in detail with the issue of McMahon-Husayn correspondence and its interpretations, as well as with the Sykes-Picot agreement. He polemised with official viewpoints of British establishment and, usually with criticism, he assessed measures of British foreign politics. His revolutionary interpretations are believed to have changed the scientific approach of the view on modern history of the Middle Eastern countries.