Final answer:
The Sykes-Picot Agreement contributed to ongoing political and territorial disputes in the Middle East, as it set up mandates without regard for local ethnic and political contexts, leading to conflict and upheaval. The correct option is c.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Sykes-Picot Agreement or Mandates had a significant impact on the conflicts in the Middle East.
This 1916 agreement was a secret arrangement between the French and British, partitioning areas of the former Ottoman Empire into zones of influence, leading to the creation of mandates like Syria and Lebanon under French control and Iraq, Palestine, and Transjordan under British control, setting the stage for future unrest.
The resulting mandate system ignored the ethnic, religious, and political intricacies of the region.
By not consulting the local populations about their preferences and making contradictory promises regarding Arab independence and the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, the mandates sowed seeds of discontent that would later manifest in various conflicts.
The consequences of Sykes-Picot are evident in the ongoing political and territorial disputes that continue to affect the Middle East today, as none of the other options (a) increased cooperation, (b) stable borders, (d) no impact) reflect the historical outcomes of the agreement. The correct option is c.