" Cairo 1921 is a good read for historians of the Middle East and casual enthusiasts looking to learn more. It shows how colonial powers failed miserably at the closure of their empires, how fragile democracies could be, and how a conference held in Cairo in 1921 and the decisions taken then have had reverberating ramifications 100 years later."--Omar Darwazah, Arab Studies Quarterly "A brilliant and comprehensive examination of the events, individuals involved and actions taken by Britain under Churchill as Colonial Secretary and his advisors in Cairo in March 1921 while challenged by nascent nationalism and prevailing colonial mindset."--Michael D. Berdine, author of Redrawing the Middle East "A refreshingly clear and straightforward account of the 1921 Cairo Conference that largely shaped the Middle East as we know it today."--David Stafford, author of Oblivion or Glory: 1921 and the Making of Winston Churchill "This is a beautifully written book -- accessible and historically rigorous. It seeks to understand the past on its own terms rather than through the prism of our contemporary obsessions. Instead, Professor Faught foregrounds the complex policy challenges facing the British government within the context of the time.

The result is a sympathetic but critical account of the way in which the modern Middle East state system emerged. We live with the consequences."--Sir John Jenkins, former British ambassador to Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.