France, the cradle of enlightenment, has the historical reputation of being a nation that fought in the vanguard for liberty, equality and justice. For many scholars France is one of the few European powers of the nineteenth century, if not the only one, that would provide humanitarian and political aid to several minorities that suffered under a dictatorial power in the time after the French Revolution. Perhaps the most known example is the French support for the American revolutionaries who fought for their own enlightened ideology against their British overlords. But ideology cannot be the only reason France would act as benefactor of several minorities.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- INTRODUCTION
- THE VULNERABILITY OF THE STATUS QUO: EUROPEAN INTEREST IN THE MIDDLE EAST
- MARONITE AND DRUZE GRIEVANCES: WHY EUROPEAN INTERVENTION?
- FRENCH INTERVENTION: HUMANITARIAN OR POLITICAL?
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to analyze the French government's intervention in the Mount Lebanon Civil War of 1860. It seeks to determine whether the French intervention was genuinely motivated by humanitarian concerns for the Maronite minority or whether it served as a covert means of expanding French influence and presence in the region, potentially constituting an early form of empire-building.
- French Intervention in the Mount Lebanon Civil War of 1860
- Humanitarian Aid vs. Imperialist Ambitions
- European Interests in the Middle East
- The Role of the Ottoman Empire
- The Impact of the Crimean War
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- INTRODUCTION: This chapter sets the stage for the essay by highlighting France's historical reputation as a champion of liberty, equality, and justice, particularly in its support for various minorities. It introduces the Maronite Christians of Syria and their historical relationship with France. The chapter also outlines the rivalry between France and Great Britain for influence in the region and the context of the Mount Lebanon Civil War of 1860.
- THE VULNERABILITY OF THE STATUS QUO: EUROPEAN INTEREST IN THE MIDDLE EAST: This chapter explores the European powers' involvement in the Middle East in the nineteenth century, particularly after the Congress of Vienna. It discusses the decline of Ottoman power, the rise of European influence, and the complex dynamics of the Great Game. The chapter also analyzes the growing European sympathy for Christian minorities in the Ottoman Empire and the concerns about the potential for European intervention in the region.
- MARONITE AND DRUZE GRIEVANCES: WHY EUROPEAN INTERVENTION?: This chapter focuses on the specific grievances and tensions between the Maronite and Druze communities in Mount Lebanon. It explores the historical context of their relationship, the impact of Egyptian occupation, and the escalation of conflict leading to the 1860 war. The chapter also discusses the role of European consuls in shaping European public opinion and the decision for French military intervention.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary themes and concepts of this essay are: French humanitarian aid, European imperialism, the Ottoman Empire, Mount Lebanon Civil War, Maronite Christians, Druze, European intervention, the Crimean War, the Great Game, and the status quo.
- Quote paper
- Roy Ripzaad (Author), 2018, French Humanitarian Aid. Protecting Minorities and Implementing Imperialism in the Ottoman Empire in the Nineteenth Century, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/444946
