Britain and Oman, c. 19451980

This book examines the relationship between Britain and Oman since the end of the Second World War up until the Iranian revolution. Particular focus is given to the political and economic development of the state, together with Britain's various overt and covert interventions, principally in the three decades between 1945 and 1975. The author addresses themes which have previously been unexplored in the literature on Oman and British Imperialism in the Arabian Peninsula, such as the establishment of the Sultan's Armed Forces, and the impact of the oil industry. The book shows that Sultan Said bin Taymur (r. 1932-1970) enjoyed considerable 'agency' in his relations with the British who found it very difficult to persuade him to implement economic development and establish relations with his neighbours. Britain's relations with successive sultans were deliberately concealed, including the contribution of special forces in fighting Oman's insurgencies.

It is widely argued that when Qaboos bin Said became Sultan in 1970, a 'renaissance' occurred, however many newly discovered documents have called this into question. They reveal how an inexperienced Sultan came to power with covert British support, and Whitehall's direction of the war in Dhofar from afar. These documents highlight the extent of British intelligence cooperation and psychological warfare planning to counter the insurgents in Dhofar. However, as this book demonstrates, the Sultan also relied on non-British advisors, known as the 'mafia', to secure financial assistance and establish diplomatic ties across the Middle East. Finally, the book details how British defence assistance continued well beyond the retreat from empire in the Persian Gulf.

Explores the development of the silent relationship between Britain and the Sultanate during the mid-1950s Offers insights for historians of British imperialism in the Middle East, Oman and the Gulf region, and diplomacy Uses an unrivalled range of records from archives in the UK and the USA, and interviews with veterans who worked in Oman

Autorentext

Tancred Bradshaw is an independent scholar with over twenty years of research experience in archives in the Middle East, the UK, and the USA. Having previously studied history at the School of Oriental and African Studies, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 2021. Tancred has also acted as a historical consultant in the Gulf region, and has published three books.

Inhalt

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Oman: An Imperial Convenience.- Chapter 3: The expansion of British policy in Oman in the 1950s: armed forces and boundaries.- Chapter 4: Oman, Insurgency, and the Suez Era.- Chapter 5: The Deepening Relationship: armed forces, insurgency, and development, 1958-1960.- Chapter 6: Britain and Oman in the early 1960s.- Chapter 7: Separate in Isolation: Oman and the British withdrawal from the Gulf.- Chapter 8: A Perfect Storm: the SAF and the Dhofar Insurgency, 1965-1970.- Chapter 9: The Writing on the Wall: the demise of Said bin Taymur.- Chapter 10: Oman's Renaissance: the early years of Sultan Qaboos' rule.- Chapter 11: Out of Isolation: Oman joins the international system.- Chapter 12: The Continuation of the Silent Relationship.- Conclusion.