Orientalism in British policymaking: Gertrude Bell and the Iraq Mandate, 1921-1932

Abstract

In the wake of the First World War, the League of Nations established the mandate system to stabilize the territories that had, until recently, been under the control of Germany or the Ottoman Empire. It did so by assigning regions, known as "mandates," to member states, like Britain and France. The mandate system granted permission for these member states to control, influence, and administer a government in the mandated territory. This influence and occupation had a long-lasting impact, especially in the Middle East. This thesis examines how the British government employed Orientalists in order to better understand and thus dominate the people of Iraq. Of the many political officers that were invaluable participants and agents of empire, Gertrude Bell was a monumental player in this endeavor and aided the British by providing reports on the region and its people. I assert that Gertrude Bell is one of the best examples of an "Orientalist," as defined by Said: an expert on the Orient aiding in its domination and exploitation. This research relies heavily on Bell's reports to the British government, letters to family, and other published writings. Many scholars have mentioned Bell or Orientalism in their work on the Iraq mandate but have failed to examine their influence critically. I aim to provide a well-rounded analysis of Bell's influence as an Orientalist by focusing primarily on her official, governmental presence, rather than her personal life and letters, which has been the focus of other works.