Sykes-Picot at 100

{
  "authors": [
    "Joseph Bahout",
    "Steven Cook",
    "Shadi Hamid",
    "Rachel Havrelock",
    "Emad Shahin",
    "Galip Dalay"
  ],
  "type": "other",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [
    "Arab Awakening"
  ],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "menaTransitions",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "MEP",
  "programs": [
    "Middle East"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "Middle East",
    "Israel",
    "North Africa",
    "Iraq",
    "Lebanon",
    "Jordan",
    "Palestine",
    "Syria"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Political Reform"
  ]
}

Other

Sykes-Picot at 100

One hundred years after the division of the Middle East, the effects of the Sykes-Picot agreement are still playing out across the region.

By Joseph Bahout, Steven Cook, Shadi Hamid, Rachel Havrelock, Emad Shahin, Galip Dalay

Published on Jun 3, 2016

Source: Foreign Affairs

The Sykes-Picot agreement that divided the Middle East one hundred years ago has profoundly impacted the political history and trajectory of the modern Middle East. Speaking with Foreign Affairs, Carnegie's Joseph Bahout assessed the consequences of this historic agreement.

This event was originally posted at Foreign Affairs.

About the Authors

Joseph Bahout

Former Nonresident Fellow, Middle East Program

Joseph Bahout was a nonresident fellow in Carnegie’s Middle East Program. His research focuses on political developments in Lebanon and Syria, regional spillover from the Syrian crisis, and identity politics across the region.

Steven Cook

Shadi Hamid

Shadi Hamid is a senior fellow in the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World in the Center for Middle East Policy. He served as director of research at the Brookings Doha Center until January 2014.

Rachel Havrelock

Emad Shahin

Galip Dalay

Political Reform Middle East Israel North Africa Iraq Lebanon Jordan Palestine Syria

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Multiple Wars Are Ruining Central Asia’s Efforts to Diversify Its Trade Routes
This year’s wars have made alternative routes to transit through Russia no less risky for Central Asian countries.
Galiya Ibragimova
Commentary
Emissary
Iran Wanted to Survive the War. Now What?
The United States and Israel may have unwittingly revived the Islamic Republic’s “zombie regime.”
Suzanne Maloney, Aaron David Miller, Karim Sadjadpour
Commentary
Diwan
Lebanon Should Try to Place Hezbollah on the U.S.-Iran Table
As talks begin between Washington and Tehran, Beirut has an opening to advance a regional plan for the party’s disarmament.
Michael Young
Paper
Loyal but Powerless: The Downgrading of Russia’s Elite
The ruling elites in contemporary Russia are not a political class, but a community of managers who are not subject to competition or public accountability. The state is becoming an operating apparatus without any internal autonomy.
Alexandra Prokopenko
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
What Does Pashinyan’s Parliamentary Victory Mean for Armenia’s Future?
Pashinyan’s pro-European party has been re-elected with a decisive victory. But the pro-Russian opposition could still slow Armenia’s progress toward peace with Azerbaijan and rapprochement with Europe.
Mikayel Zolyan

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Multiple Wars Are Ruining Central Asia’s Efforts to Diversify Its Trade Routes

This year’s wars have made alternative routes to transit through Russia no less risky for Central Asian countries.

Galiya Ibragimova

Man sitting in a chair reading a newspaper with Trump's face above the fold

Commentary

Emissary

Iran Wanted to Survive the War. Now What?

The United States and Israel may have unwittingly revived the Islamic Republic’s “zombie regime.”

Suzanne Maloney, Aaron David Miller, Karim Sadjadpour

Commentary

Diwan

Lebanon Should Try to Place Hezbollah on the U.S.-Iran Table

As talks begin between Washington and Tehran, Beirut has an opening to advance a regional plan for the party’s disarmament.

Michael Young

Paper

Loyal but Powerless: The Downgrading of Russia’s Elite

The ruling elites in contemporary Russia are not a political class, but a community of managers who are not subject to competition or public accountability. The state is becoming an operating apparatus without any internal autonomy.

Alexandra Prokopenko

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

What Does Pashinyan’s Parliamentary Victory Mean for Armenia’s Future?

Pashinyan’s pro-European party has been re-elected with a decisive victory. But the pro-Russian opposition could still slow Armenia’s progress toward peace with Azerbaijan and rapprochement with Europe.

Mikayel Zolyan