A Divided Camp: The Istiqlalis in Transjordan, 1920-1926

Abstract

This thesis sheds light on the heterogeneity of the Istiqlal Party in early 1920s Transjordan, and examines its effects on the politics of this new Emirate. It argues that there were diverse agendas and competing visions among members of the Istiqlal Party, who came to dominate the bureaucracy throughout the early 1920s. The thesis discerns two main types of Istiqlalis: militants and accommodationists. The former were committed to the goal of fighting the French in Syria and were engaged in anti-colonial activities. The latter were less committed to the anti-colonial struggle, and forged better ties with the colonial powers. This thesis also discusses the relationship between the Istiqlalis and the native population. It reveals that the early 1920s saw the emergence of an oppositional movement against the Istiqlalis. At the same time, this movement endorsed and supported the anti-colonial activities of the militant Istiqlalis.