A Line in the Sand by James Barr delves into the complex history of how Britain and France carved up the Middle East after World War I, focusing on the Sykes-Picot Agreement and its lasting impact. The book reveals a tale of intrigue, espionage, and violence, involving figures like T.E. Lawrence and Winston Churchill, and explores how these events continue to influence the region today.
In 'Lords of the Desert', James Barr challenges the conventional view that Arab nationalism led to the decline of the British Empire in the Middle East. Instead, he argues that the United States played a crucial role in Britain's exit, leveraging newly declassified archives to reveal the complex rivalries and power struggles between the two nations. The book provides a detailed exploration of the region's history and its implications for understanding current geopolitical dynamics.
This is the second instalment of a two-part episode. The October 7 Hamas-led terrorist attacks on Israel and the subsequent siege of Gaza by the Israeli military upended the Middle East. Can the conflict be contained or will the tensions between Israel, Hezbollah and Iran escalate and engulf the Middle East in a regional war? On October 27, 2024, Jeremy Bowen, the International Editor of the BBC, joined Intelligence Squared CEO Matt McAllester in conversation to reflect and make sense of what is happening in the region. Bowen has reported on all the most significant events that have shaped the region’s recent history – the long and ultimately failed Middle East peace process, the tragic events of 9/11 and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, plus most recently the Israel-Hamas war. Many of these events are covered in Bowen's recent book, The Making of the Modern Middle East. As a journalist and author, his deep understanding of the political, cultural and religious differences of its peoples makes him uniquely placed to explain its complex past and troubled present. This is a two-part discussion. Part Two, recorded on October 28, 2024, convenes Dr Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, and James Barr, a historian of the Middle East and the author of Lords of the Desert and A Line In The Sand, in conversation with BBC News presenter, Jonny Dymond.
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