Abstract
T.E. Lawrence is a celebrated figure in military history and a key reference point for the idea that small and highly mobile armed units can decisively undermine the strategic capacities of conventional armies and empires. Whilst Lawrence played an important role in supporting Arab self-determination, his legacy has been the subject of some controversy in the Arab world. We show the ‘hybridised’ nature of this legacy in the fields of military intelligence and irregular warfare. Lawrence borrowed the techniques of mobile warfare from local Arab sources during the First World War. This ‘borrowing’ then became the basis of further variations on the theme of mobility and autonomy as the lessons of the Arab revolt were applied to the clandestine operations of organizations such as the SAS and the SOE during the Second World War. The paper explores the processes by which these borrowings occurred; highlighting the ways in which Lawrence’s legacy resonates with the covert operations of today’s intelligence organizations and with contemporary interest in ‘networked’ forms in the aftermath of 9/11.
Highlights
Recent tumultuous events in the societies of the Arab Middle East have generated much comment and debate on the social economic and political regeneration of the region
Lawrence is an important strategic thinker and a key reference point for the idea that small, highly mobile armed units can decisively undermine the strategic position of well defended armies and empires
The paper highlights the significance of this legacy for the colonial encounter, focusing on two specific areas where there is a need for further elucidation and analysis, namely i) Lawrence’s activities as a political officer in the field and his influence on the Arab revolt and ii) his role as an innovator in military organization and strategy
Summary
Recent tumultuous events in the societies of the Arab Middle East have generated much comment and debate on the social economic and political regeneration of the region. The paper was partly inspired by research on the question of how the adoption of Western management practices in Arab societies can be understood in relation to complex forms of cultural borrowing and creative appropriation We draw on these concepts to look more closely at the idea that Lawrence deconstructed conventions of military hierarchy, creating a war of mobility, diffusion and intangible threat (Arquilla & Ronfeld, 1999; Shapiro, 2005; Munro, 2010). This paper examines the historical legacy of T.E. Lawrence and British imperial involvement in Arab political and military struggles during and immediately after the First World War. The paper highlights the significance of this legacy for the colonial encounter, focusing on two specific areas where there is a need for further elucidation and analysis, namely i) Lawrence’s activities as a political officer in the field and his influence on the Arab revolt and ii) his role as an innovator in military organization and strategy. We show how the encounter between Lawrence and Arab leaders was shaped by the systematic use of misinformation and strategic deception
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