in the 1940s and 1950s, pan-arabism grew in the middle east in response to\na decrease in arab…

Brief Explanations:

Pan - Arabism is a political ideology that promotes the unification of Arab countries. In the 1940s and 1950s, European colonialism was still a significant force in the Middle East. Pan - Arabism grew as a response to European conquest and colonialism. Arab nationalists saw unity as a way to resist foreign domination. Arab nationalism was actually on the rise during this period as a part of the broader Pan - Arab movement. The division of the Ottoman Empire occurred after World War I (in the 1920s), which is earlier than the 1940s - 1950s time frame. While Western influence was a factor, European colonialism (which is a form of Western domination) was a more direct and immediate cause in the context of the growth of Pan - Arabism in the 1940s and 1950s.

Answer:

C. European conquest and colonialism.