Elusive Forces in Illusive Eyes: British Officialdom’s Perception of the Anatolian Resistance Movement

Yenen, A.A. (2023)

Part of book or chapter of book

In the aftermath of the First World War, British officials had difficulty understanding the elusive forces behind the Anatolian resistance movement. They anxiously assumed that Kemalists were being controlled by the Unionist leaders in exile and that they were part of an international conspiracy. In this confusion, the fugitive Unionist leaders received disproportionate attention and credit in British intelligence reports, with critical consequences for their political sense-making and decision-making. I argue that the preconception of ‘Young Turks’ in general as well as assumptions about Unionist leaders’ alleged and actual activities after 1918 were crucial for British officialdom's policies towards the Anatolian resistance movement.

• Intelligence
• conspiracy theory
• Turkish War of Independence
• Young Turks
• Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
• Enver Pasha
• anti-Semitism

• All authors: Yenen, A.A.
• Editor(s): MacArthur-Seal, D.J.; Barlas, D.; Hale, W.
• Date: 2023-01-01
• Title of host publication: From Enemies to Allies: Turkey and Britain, 1918–1960
• Pages: 38 - 60
• ISBN (print): 9781032399539