Approaching Transnational Political History: The Role of Non-State Actors in Post-Ottoman State-Formation

This paper argues for the relevance of studying non-state actors in the state-formation process of the post-Ottoman Middle East. In writing a transnational political history, it is necessary to approach transnationalism in its political sense. In political science, political transnationalism refers to the interactions of non-state actors in world politics. In re-reading the post-war settlement in the Middle East, the role of non-state actors involved and engaged in state-(re)formation becomes obvious and calls for further theoretical scrutiny. First, I will briefly discuss transnational history as an emerging research field and the place of transnational political history within this trend. I will then introduce the non-state actor concept as an analytical category in historical cases of political transnationalism. Finally, I will discuss the necessity of developing a new type of non-state actor engaged in new interactions aimed at state-(re)formation. This chapter I argue for the relevance of studying non-state actors in the state-formation process of the post-Ottoman Middle East. In writing a transnational political history, it is necessary to approach transnationalism in its political sense. In political science, political transnationalism refers to the interactions of non-state actors in world politics. In re-reading the post-war settlement in the Middle East, the role of non-state actors involved and engaged in state-(re)formation becomes obvious and calls for further theoretical scrutiny. First, I will briefly discuss transnational history as an emerging research field and the place of transnational political history within this trend. I will then introduce the non-state actor concept as an analytical category in historical cases of political transnationalism. Finally, I will discuss the necessity of developing a new type of non-state actor engaged in new interactions aimed at state-(re)formation, which would deliver broader and comparative explanation of the repeating causal and correlational patterns and dynamics of revolutionary figures and movements without simplifying the prevailing affinities, complexities, and varieties of Middle Eastern politics.