Yet we are now witnessing its disintegration, because the Sykes-Picot design always implied a strong external hegemonic power (or two) able and willing to maintain stability by channeling (or suppressing) the region’s numerous conflicts. Great Britain and France, the first hegemonic powers, were succeeded by the US and the Soviet Union – and, finally, by the US alone.
当时所建立起来的欧洲或多或少地就是今天的欧洲。但如今我们正在目睹中东的分崩离析，因为赛克斯-皮科方案需要一个（或两个）强大的外部霸权能够也愿意通过疏导（或镇压）该地区的众多冲突维持稳定。一开始的霸权是英国和法国，后来是美国和苏联，最后只剩下美国一个。