Supply, Security and Sustainability: British Wartime Administration in the Middle East, 1941-1945
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/2k1ex881Keywords:
Middle East, Middle East Supply Center, WWII, Keynesianism, colonialism.Abstract
During World War II, Britain established the Middle East Supply Center in the Middle East to coordinate and manage the economies of the countries in the Middle East, so as to ensure Britain's control over the Middle East and to make use of the strategic location of the Middle East to allow the Middle East to develop into a supply base and transportation corridor for the Allied Forces. The Middle East Supply Center (MESC) began as an advisory agency, but as its authority continued to expand, it gradually became the largest representative of British national interests in the Middle East. Acting under the duty of contributing to the war effort of the Allied Forces, The Middle East Supply Center was rather successful which tackled various crises and more importantly, making Middle East an invaluable supply route, bringing out the strategic potential of the Middle East. However, the Middle East Supply Center and the role of colonialism it represented could not win the future of the Middle East. It not only failed to ensure Britain's influence in the Middle East intact, but also failed to receive support from the United States and Middle Eastern states. It’s not merely a matter of power, but a matter of leadership in postwar world order.
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