Sea of Troubles

Ian Rutledge is an economist and historian. Rutledge earned his PhD in Economic History from the University of Cambridge and has taught at the Universities of London and Sheffield. An Arabist who has studied the language for over two decades, Rutledge has devoted the past two decades to researching the economic and political history of the Middle East and North Africa. His other publications include the critically acclaimed Enemy on the Euphrates: The Battle for Iraq, 1914-1921.

Praise for Enemy on the Euphrates 'Enemy on the Euphrates is that rare treasure that combines a fascinating account of important historical events with penetrating geopolitical analysis. Anyone seeking an understanding of the role of oil in shaping modern Middle Eastern history will want to read this book.' Michael Klare, author of The Race for What's Left: The Global Scramble for the World's Last Resources 'Enemy on the Euphrates is a lively and well-researched account of the events leading up to the Iraqi 'revolution' of 1920, using a number of hitherto unused British and Arabic sources. The leading Arab and British personalities are well-drawn, and the narrow moral universe of the British administrators is especially well portrayed. The description of the military campaign is masterful, and the narrative of the campaign maintains a high level of suspense.' Peter Sluglett, author of Britain in Iraq: Contriving King and Country 'Ian Rutledge's brilliant book reveals the folly and delusion of invading Iraq. Read it and shudder' Nicholas Rankin, author of Churchill's Wizards: The British Genius for Deception 1914-1945 'Fascinating, lively and very readable ... This gripping narrative brings to life the human side of these violent events and of the developments that preceded them through some vivid descriptions and highly relevant anecdotes' Charles Tripp, author of The Power and the People: Paths of Resistance in the Middle East 'Material with acute relevance to the crisis now tearing Iraq to pieces' Robert Fisk, Independent 'Readers will find plenty of food for thought in Ian Rutledge's well-crafted and lively account ... This timely book delves into the early, troubled history of British controlled Iraq ... While offering abundant detail on military operations, lines of communications and warfare tactics, Enemy on the Euphrates also makes for a very lively and human-centred read of imperial history. Populated by a remarkable crowd of spies, diplomats, soldiers, clerics and tribal leaders, Rutledge's account displays a novelist's taste for intrigue, espionage, gunboat diplomacy, personal hardship and murder.' BBC History Magazine 'Rutledge does an excellent job of conveying the logistical difficulties confronting any military leadership ... deserving of a wide readership' Middle East Journal 'A vivid book ... an excellently produced book that admirably succeeds in illuminating an important episode in British imperial history' History Today 'Compelling, rich with such colorful personalities as Winston Churchill, Gertrude Bell and T. E. Lawrence' Saudi Aramco World 'Well-researched, well-written and very useful contribution to the understanding of modern Iraq' Middle East Media and Book Reviews Online 'Timely and rich in detail ... highly readable, lively and dramatic. [Rutledge] presents fascinating accounts of the main British and Iraqi personalities involved in the narrative' al-Hayat 'A timely reminder of how we got here ... an important book' The National 'Exhaustive and very readable ... [Rutledge] succeeds in imparting an understanding of why relations between the Arabs and the West remain fraught to this day' Asian Review of Books

• Contents: A: Note on 'Mediterranean' B: A Note on 'Colonialism' and 'Imperialism' Introduction PART ONE c.1750 - c.1815 Chapter 1: The Islamic and Christian Worlds of the Eighteenth Century Mediterranean Chapter 2: The Ottoman 'Economic Mind': Innovation, Industry and Trade Chapter 3: The State, land and taxation: the fiscal crisis of the Ottoman system Chapter 4: At the Gateway to the Mediterranean: Britain and the 'Empire' of Morocco Chapter 5: The Ottoman Regencies and the Barbary Corsairs Chapter 6: The Russians in the Mediterranean Chapter 7: Ottoman Egypt: the Empire Fraying at the Edges Chapter 8: A Spanish Disaster Chapter 9: 'Liberating the Egyptians': the Origins of French Republican Imperialism Chapter 10: The French in Egypt: from Military Victory to Colonial failure Chapter 11: The Troubled beginings of Britain's 'Blue-Water Empire' PART TWO c.1815 - c.1870 Chapter 12: The Beginning of the end for the Ottoman Regencies Chapter 13: The Multiple crises of Mahmud II Chapter 14: The French Invasion of Algiers and the growth of the Resistance, 1830-36. Chapter 15: Saving the Sultans: the emergence of inter-imperialist rivalry Chapter 16: Algerie Francaise Chapter 17: Inter-imperialist Rivalry: Proxy War and Real War Chapter 18: France's Second Imperial Venture in the Eastern Mediterranean Chapter 19: The Industrialised and the Non-Industrialised PART THREE c.1870 - c.1895 Chapter 20: The Age of the Rentiers. Chapter 21: The 'Great Eastern Crisis', 1875-78 Chapter 22: Tunisia and Egypt, 1981-82: the Bailiffs arrive Chapter 23: The slow death of the 'Empire' of Morocco PART FOUR c.1895 - c.1918 Chapter 24: Imperialist Realignment, Colonialist Deals, New Imperialists Chapter 25: Imperialism on the Northern Shore: Austria-Hungary and Bosnia-Herzegovina Chapter 26: The French and Spanish take Morocco, 1909-12 Chapter 27: The Forgotten War: the Italian invasion of Libya, 1911-12 Chapter 28: Unexpected resistance: the Arabs and Turks fight back Chapter 29: 'Playing the Balkan Card': From Imperialism to World War Chapter 30: From World War to Imperialism Appendices A, B, C and D Note on Transliteration and geographical names Glossary Bibliography