Fantasies of Empire and Local Realities: Unpacking Airmindedness in the Middle East, 1924–1944

This article analyzes the co-production of “airmindedness” in the British and French mandates in the interwar Middle East. We argue that while imperial carriers used visual and textual advertising to promote flying as an extension of empire, this process was not unidirectional. By focusing on local initiatives in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine, we demonstrate how local elites and entrepreneurs also shaped the meaning of civil aviation. In French-mandated territories, a direct rule approach stifled local ventures, whereas in British Palestine, Zionist groups successfully developed a local aviation culture. This study advocates for a multi-scalar, transimperial, and Middle East-centric approach to aviation history, recognizing the critical role of local actors in connecting imperial networks.