A Clash of Empires : Turkey between Russian Bolshevism and British Imperialism, 1918-1923 (Library of Modern Middle East Studies, 13)

Rating:
Summary: A Clash of Empires
Review: This concise and lucidly written book deals with a series of key events in 1918-23 which conditioned the rise of modern Turkey and decided the fate of the Cauacsus. By using new data Gokay subjects them to a new and well-integrated analysis that provides a clearer perspective about the policies of all the forces involved in the struggle for the Caucasus and Anatolia. Convincingly an coherently, he demonstrates how the Bolshevik ideology endangered new strategic realignments and turned Russia and Great Britain into enemies. Gokay uses pactically all the existing literature in Turkish and Western languages and a variety of primary sources. In fact, he is one of the first scholars to make use of the Russian sources and thus bring forth new information on Russo-Turkish relations, including the activities of Enver Pasha, one of the Young Turks' leaders. The result is a balanced, objective, informative, and truly scholarly first-rate work - in fact, the best available succinct study of the subject.

Rating:
Summary: first anti-imperialist struggle
Review: This is the kind of book one reads with interest and excitement, and learns the fascinating details of the first anti-imperialist struggle in the early 20th century. This book gives full attention to all sides of this complicated conflict, and presents a very realistic picture without idealising any of the important figures. It is also full of many amazing stories of spying, diplomatic intrigues, political calculations and personal manipulations. At one level the book reads like a historical novel with all the ingredients of passion, disappointment, tragedy and personal dreams. But all above are narrated accurately and supported by a rich collection of Russian, Turkish and English documents, many of them have never published before. This book tells an important historical story with excitement.

Rating:
Summary: first anti-imperialist struggle
Review: This is the kind of book one reads with interest and excitement, and learns the fascinating details of the first anti-imperialist struggle in the early 20th century. This book gives full attention to all sides of this complicated conflict, and presents a very realistic picture without idealising any of the important figures. It is also full of many amazing stories of spying, diplomatic intrigues, political calculations and personal manipulations. At one level the book reads like a historical novel with all the ingredients of passion, disappointment, tragedy and personal dreams. But all above are narrated accurately and supported by a rich collection of Russian, Turkish and English documents, many of them have never published before. This book tells an important historical story with excitement.