Today in the world there are nearly 500 million Arabs who outnumber the nations in 23 countries of the world. Why Arabs do not live in one state what attempts were done by the nation for association?
The idea about the Arab unity and about unification of the Arab state a beret the roots from the Arab Caliphate existing on present Arab lands in the 7th century. Many followers of Pan-Arabism rely on the idea of revival of the Caliphate which could unite the nation together. Despite the power and broad territorial gains the Caliphate existed not for long, it collapsed on a set of the states, and later the majority of the Arab lands got under influence of the Ottoman Empire.
The new wave of the national ideas arose in the 19th century together with growth of nationalism in the region. The real attempt of association of Arabs and obtaining independence happened during world war of 1914-1918. The French and British promised Arabs to give lands of the following states: Palestine, Iraq, Syria and practically all Arabian Peninsula if they begin a revolt in the Ottoman Empire. Arabs agreed to it, opposed Ottomans and won many lands. However on the end of war the British and the French neglected agreements and occupied the promised territory, having created protectorates there. Arabs received only small parts of lands on Arabian Peninsula. Moreover, there, between Arabs the race for power was started.
Despite this, on the end of World War I nevertheless the independent Arab states appear. Yemen finds independence in 1918 after falling of Ottomans. Behind it, after the end of war, Nejd and Hijaz were formed. However owing to enslavement and wars, they were transformed to Saudi Arabia in 1932. In 1922 Egypt, after the numerous revolts becomes independent, though on the terms of the British. Formal independence is gained by Iraq in 1921. The second wave of the Arab ascension began on the end of World War II. Already in the second half the XX all lands of the national territory of Arabs gain independence, and the idea about unity soars in air. Along with it in the Arab countries arises strong political movements. Also Arab countries are united by hostility to the main opponent in the region – to Israel. Many leaders of the countries tried to unite Arab the state in uniform. Creation of the so-called Integrated Arab republic under the auspices of Party of the Arab socialist revival became the first real attempt. Egypt and Syria were a part of the republic, however because of the conflicts in the power in the 1961st year Syria leaves formation though formally the country existed 10 more years, in its structure only Egypt was registered.
There were attempts to attract to this state and other Arab countries, but this invention was not realized. Creation of the Arab Federation in 1958 became one more attempt of creation of the general state. Iraq and Jordan were a part of Federation. Same year the king of Iraq was overthrown and shot, and the new republican government did not want to deal with monarchic Jordan therefore the federation failed.
The last attempt to create the uniform Arab state which was called Federation of the Arab republics in general ended with war between the countries by participants. So in 1972 Syria, Egypt and Libya decided to create new Arab federation. Gaddafi and Nasser were the main initiators, but in a year of signing of the contract between Libya and Egypt conflicts on foreign policy questions began, Egypt came over to the side of the West in Cold War and recognized Israel. Thereby, having become the enemy of all Arab world. In 1977 between Libya and Egypt there was 3rd a day war.
In fact – it were the last attempts of association of the large Arab countries to the uniform state. Then, the pan-Arab movements declined, and today do not enjoy former popularity. It is worth noticing that some projects on a unification of Arabs after all passed successfully. First of all is an example of Saudi Arabia when under a dynasty of Saudis, though violently, but national educations on Arabian Peninsula were integrated. One more successful example it is possible to call the United Arab Emirates which kept the unity even after independence finding. Yemen also partly can be considered a positive example as in 90 m to year the North and the South of the country united.
Apparently, the obstacle of association of Arabs to one state is the main thing the internal conflicts and disagreements. Arabs are strongly politically separated and today a part of the nation stays under the auspices of absolute monarchies while others live in the democratic republics. Arabs for the last hundred years constantly are at war with each other. Wars in the Middle East became even more bloody. Still Arab people are separated on religious sign. Sunnites and Shiites are irreconcilable enemies, and the lion's share of the conflicts between bullock carts is constructed on hostility for religious motives.