Answer: C. Borders were drawn without regard for local populations. The mandate system, which was implemented by the League of Nations after World War I, placed certain former Ottoman territories in the Middle East under the control of European powers. These powers were responsible for administering the territories and preparing them for self-governance. However, the borders of these territories were often drawn without regard for the ethnic and religious makeup of the local populations, leading to issues of minority rights and political instability in the region.