The Formation of Arab Nations Much of the modern Arab political world was born at the end of the First World War, when external powers divided up their shares of territories loyal to their regimes. For example, Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon were born together with the precarious state of Palestine. During World War II, these states had begun to yearn for independence, and the following decades would witness revolutions, regime changes, violence and, ultimately, a break from the grip of the Ottoman Empire and the European powers (Provence) . Today, the so-called “Arab Spring” uprisings, which have been ongoing for several years now, are partly the result of the political rule and administration of external powers in the mid-20th century. In the early 20th century, the Arab world was composed primarily of nomadic pastoralists in the interior desert regions and urban dwellers along the coastal regions occupying important trading outposts (Anderson). Although the populations shared commonalities, such as language and religion, they had little else in common. This distinction came to be a divisive issue after the founding of the State of Israel in 1948. Before this, however, Ottoman officials and European powers, primarily the United Kingdom and France, sought to influence the region politically (Provence) . After World War I, countries that had expended enormous amounts of blood and treasure felt they had a real incentive to engage in peripheral regions and ensure their political views were supported. For example, young Arab states tended to support communist parties in their governments. The Ba'ath Party, an Arab party that still exists today, is an example of this. The early Arab states also embraced the political traditions of the Ottoman Empire, and this was oc...... middle of paper ......news.org/report/70244/iraq-jordan-counting-iraqis-to -allay-fears >.Long, Jerry M.. Saddam's War of Words: Politics, Religion, and the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2004. Print.Provence, Michael. The great Syrian uprising and the rise of Arab nationalism. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2005. Print.Shryock, Andrew. Nationalism and the genealogical imagination, oral history, and textual authority in tribal Jordan. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997. Print.Sullivan, Kevin. “In Tunisia, the Islamic government is paralyzed by middle-class backlash and extremist violence.” Washington Post. The Washington Post, September 18, 2013. Web. February 9. 2014. .