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The easiest way for an imperial power’s commanders on the ground to exercise control over conquered lands is to appoint as their lieutenants a local minority group to run herd over their formet overlords - the larger majority group, both of which now are under the thumb of the imperial power. Newfound power coupled with old grudges helps keep the minority groups new imperial lieutenants loyal to the new imperial conquerors
This is why Sunni were put over Shia during colonial Iraq and why Muslims were empowered over Hindu during Britain’s rule of India.
The Sikes-Picot arrangement, particularly with regard to Kurdistan, is a variation on this method of rule. It divided and subordinated the powerful Kurds under various competing ethnic and national rulers. All to the benefit of France and Britain.
Not that the British or French nvented this practice; it’s as old as conquest.
Once this practice is put into place and “the concrete sets” by way of land ownership and marriages and the death of memories, it then become nigh impossible to return to the old boundaries, ways of life, and structures of power. That’s a lot of what troubles the Middle East today.
This is why Sunni were put over Shia during colonial Iraq and why Muslims were empowered over Hindu during Britain’s rule of India.
The Sikes-Picot arrangement, particularly with regard to Kurdistan, is a variation on this method of rule. It divided and subordinated the powerful Kurds under various competing ethnic and national rulers. All to the benefit of France and Britain.
Not that the British or French nvented this practice; it’s as old as conquest.
Once this practice is put into place and “the concrete sets” by way of land ownership and marriages and the death of memories, it then become nigh impossible to return to the old boundaries, ways of life, and structures of power. That’s a lot of what troubles the Middle East today.
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