'Divide and Rule' was a strategy used by Empires to subjugate other groups while 'recognising' their self-determination. For 'The People' to rule you have to determine a homogenous group, but as soon as a common external enemy disappears, internal disagreements and groups will develop. Think of the Partisan nature of most modern democracies. The Ottoman Empires fall was partly inspired by 'The Great Arab Revolt' which aimed to create a single Arab state. Islamic theory talks of an 'Ummah' which creates one state regardless of ethnicity or race. When the Ottoman Empire was partitioned by Britain and France after World War I, there were various claimants for who should rule the new race-based nation. No one agreed... so divide and rule. The 'Emirate of Transjordan' was established in 1921, as a protectorate of Britain, and it became the independent state of Jordan in 1946. Although a constitutional democracy, the King holds legislative and administrative powers. The country is host to over 2 million Palestinian and 1.4 million Syrian refugees.
Arab Revolt - 1916
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