Post on 24-Mar-2016
description
(Relatively Modern) Egyptian History
• 1800s: Independent State (under the Ottoman Empire)– Pasha (Khedive) Muhammad Ali
• 1850s: deLesseps & French build Suez Canal– Forced Labor– Opened 1869
• 1875: British buy controlling stake in canal from Ismail ($4 mill pounds)
• 1882: British Occupation– 1888: Canal zone = neutral, under British
protection
• 1914 (to end of WWI): Protectorate of the British
(Relatively Modern) Egyptian History
• 1919: Revolution– Against British Occupation– Wafd Party
• Nationalist, liberal, independence party 20s & 30s
• 1922 UK recognizes independence– Why?
• 1923: Egyptian Constitution– Developed by the Wafd
• 1936-1952: King Farouk I– Tool of the British
• 1952: Egyptian Revolution / Military Coup– Nasser
The Constituent Assembly of 1923 was composed of only 30 members
source: Magles Al-Shaab Al-Masry (The Egyptian People's Assembly), Bibliotheca Alexandrina, 2008
The opening session of the 1924 parliament, headed by the King
Khedive Ismail's letter to Sherif Pasha, the
prime minister, on the Shura Council
regulations
parliament convening in 1913
Article 3 of the 1923 constitution declared
all Egyptians equal with the same
political and civil rights. It also stressed that there should be no discrimination on
the basis of race, language or religion
The Young Nasser
• Arab-Israeli War of 1948– Skilled tactician & strategist
• Promotion to instructor at Royal Military Academy
• 1949: Founded “Free Officers” movement– 1952 military coup
“Free Officers” MovementGoal: Establish a democratic government by force
Create a MODERN, Orderly, Viable state
New regime led by Free Officers organizational skills, military discipline and authority
Members of new government represented the ordinary people and not just the privileged people claimed to represent people no other parties were needed
Nasser originated from rural poor, symbolized the new Egypt, spoke their language and understood their plight
“The Egyptian masses were to weak to start a revolutionary action to improve their lot, so we your brothers started it for you, but you are the revolution” (Nasser Speech)
Officers became instant bureaucrats and cabinet ministers
Egypt 1952
• King Farouk’s government was replaced with the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC)– King sent into exile
• 1923 Constitution = withdrawn
• RCC obtained the right to rule
• Under new regime Nasser became Vice President and Naghib was President– 1954 Nasser seizes power
• Naghib accused of being a tool of the communists & Muslim Brotherhood
• under house arrest (18 yrs – released by Sadat in ‘72)
Nasser:“The embodiment of what the Arab world wanted to be: assertive, independent and engaged in the construction of a new society freed from the imperial past and oriented towards a bright Arab future”
(William Cleveland)
6 principles that grew out of the "Egyptian people's revolutionary will":
• 1. destruction of imperialism and its stooges among Egyptian traitors
• 2. ending of feudalism
• 3. ending monopoly and the domination of capital over the Government
• 4. establishment of social justice
• 5. building of a powerful national army
• 6. establishment of a sound democratic system
Goal: Modernize Egypt
• Topics to address:– Poverty– Ignorance– “National oblivion”– Neglect of Egypt’s
infrastructure– No sense of national
identity or pride in Egypt
• 1956: New Constitution– 1 Party State
• Arab Socialist Union representing people of Egypt– Disillusionment with
liberal government• Elections did not take
place…
• Redistribute Wealth– What does that mean?
IBM in Egypt
IBM's Cairo office
Installation at the Egyptian-American Joint Committee for Education, December 1955
IBM won its first contract in Egypt in 1953, and opened its first office in 1954
Graduates of the IBM EAM school in August 1956
Islamic Modernization• It’s definitely Modernization
• It’s definitely Socialism
• If this were anywhere other than post-colonial Egypt, would we be calling it Westernization?
Domestic Policies• Political:
– Government structure, laws– Single party state
• what happens to other groups?
• Economic:– Policies, prices, wages, Arab
socialism/Nasserism
• Social:– Rights– Education, arts– Women, children– Minorities
Centralize power within the presidency• Aka Authoritarianism
• Democracy leaves the door open for bourgeois capitalist take over
• Not a theocracy• Islam as state religion, not as state
government• And Non-Aligned with Cold War Power Players
• So not democratic or communist
Repress the Opposition (SPS)
• Communist Party and the Muslim Brotherhood were severely repressed
• 1954: Attempted assassination of Nasser– More than 4,000 MB
activists arrested– 6 MB leaders executed
• 1966: 1,000 Brothers are arrested– 365 tried and the top
leaders executed, including Sayyid Qutb
• Some argue that “When Nasser sent Qutb to the gallows in 1966, it sparked the birth of the jihadist movement” – (CNN Opinion)Muslim Brotherhood Goal:
State founded on Sharia lawIslam dictates P-E-S direction of a state
Arab Nationalism Pan-Arabism
Arab world = nation
Common: Language (Arabic), religion (Islam), history, territory, enemies…
Remove dependencies on the west (origins revolts against imperialism)
Peak under Egyptian leadership
Key Figures:--Nasser, Egypt--Gaddafi, Libya--Ba’ath Party (Iraq)
Unification 7 solidarity in the Arab world
“Supranational communalism”
Alliances
Economic co-operation
Attempts at an Arab Union
*Six-Day war defeat
Arab Socialism
Pan-Arabism + Socialism
Only a socialist system of property and development would overcome the social and economic legacy of imperialism and colonialism
Public control over the means of production = State-run centralized planned economy..but not necessarily nationalization of everything…
Retain private property (But, private property may be subject to public control)
End privileges of large landowners build popular support amongst poor
Series of welfare measures Sense of Communalism
Agrarian Reform Act - farmers better life, fairer distribution of land Labor Laws, raise in minimum wage, reduction in working hours
Full emancipation of women?
Nasserism
• Arab nationalist political ideology
• + Arab Socialism
• 1950s & 1960s
• Focus on ending Western influence
• NAM
Domestic Policy SocietyArab Socialism Nasserism
• Social services provided
• Education reform– Compulsory primary education
• Food and Shelter– Food and clothing subsides– Rent control & low cost housing
• Health care– Increased funding of the health care system and the Ministry of Public Health
• Improve working conditions– Minimum Wage– Ban child employment under age 12
Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president, to Al--Jazeera in 2006:
• Someone talked to me about his pessimism regarding the future of Arab nationalism. I told him I was optimistic, because the ideas of Nasser are still alive. Nasser was one of the greatest people of Arab history, to say the least, a Nasserist, ever since I was a young soldier.
From Modern Moderate to Authoritarian
Appealing to the west• Educated, Modern,
Moderate
• Land distribution program– Economic development
• Aswan Dam– World Bank Loan
Scary as all get up• Arab-Israeli Relations
• 1956: – Supports Jordan’s anti-British
moves– Diplomatic recognition of
Communist China• PRC since 1949• No US recognition until ‘70s
• PM Anthony Eden’s vendetta Suez Crisis 1956
Aswan Dam = Cold War Hot Spot• Egypt sought foreign aid to
build Aswan Dam– Nile River
• U S & GB declined to help
• Egypt = political and military ties to USSR
• USSR rushes aid to Egypt
• Wedge drawn between Egypt and the West
Nasser Triumphant• 1956 Suez Crisis– Brits & French = disgraced– US (Ike) have to step into Mid East– USSR = crush Hungarian uprising as signal to the world, emerge as
viable alternative in Mid East– Israel = Military might & US support
• Nasser = Champion of the Arab World
• Oil can be used as a weapon of diplomacy (foreshadowing)
Domestic Policies The Economy• Nationalization of Suez (1956)
• Late 1957:– Nationalization of remaining
French & British assets in Egypt
• Aswan Dam– Hydroelectricity– Water control– 1964: 1st stage of construction
completed– 1970: High Dam project
completed
• 1952 Agrarian Reform Law– Minimum wage– Rental rates & lease durations– Cooperatives
• 5 yr plan– Heavy industrialization
• Continued under Sadat
• Soviet Investment (Aswan Dam)– Cold War Tug of War
• US investment after 6 day war– Eisenhower Doctrine
Non-Aligned Movement• 1955: Bandung Conference
• 1961: NAM – Founders: Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, & Yugoslavia
Goals:
National independence, sovereignty
Territorial integrity
Security of non-aligned countries in their struggle against imperialism, colonialism, racism, foreign aggression, occupation, domination
United Arab Republic(Foreign meets Domestic policy)
• Founded in 1958 • Union between Egypt and Syria
President Gamal Abdul Nasser with Baath Party founders
Michel Aflaq and Salah al-Bitar in 1958 / Aflaq (left) and Bitar were prime advocates of the Syrian-Egyptian Union and
dissolved their party at will for the sake of the United Arab
Republic (UAR)
Arab-Israeli Wars: A Brief History• May 14, 1948: State of Israel
declares independence
• Israeli War of Independence/ "al-Nakba" (The Disaster) (1948-1949)– Invaded by 6 Arab nations:
Egypt, Syria, Transjordan (later Jordan), Lebanon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia
• 1949 Armistice Agreements– New borders of Israel = 78% of
Mandatory Palestine • 50% more than originally
anticipated– Gaza Strip = occupied by Egypt– West Bank = occupied by Jordan
Six Day War
• June 5-10, 1967– Between Israel and an alliance
of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan
• Egyptian military posturing– Preemptive Israeli air strike
• Egypt closed Strait of Tiran to all Israeli ships and ships carrying supplies for Israel (again)– Legal grounds to go to war
under international law
Israeli Forces
• The Israeli army had a total strength, including reservists, of 264,000, though this number could not be sustained, as the reservists were vital to civilian life.
• James Reston, writing in The New York Times on May 23, 1967, noted– "In discipline, training, morale,
equipment and general competence his [Nasser's] army and the other Arab forces, without the direct assistance of the Soviet Union, are no match for the Israelis.... Even with 50,000 troops and the best of his generals and air force in Yemen, he has not been able to work his way in that small and primitive country, and even his effort to help the Congo rebels was a flop."
Six Day War Israel Triumphant
• Arab armies = devastated– Israel gained:
• Sinai Peninsula from Egypt
• West Bank from Jordan• Golan Heights from Syria
• 1967: UN Resolution 242 – Passed by UNSC
– Called for:• Return of the territory
seized by Israel• Recognition of Israel by
the Arab states• Reaffirmation of the
principle of free navigation• Future peace and stability
in the region.
Name: ________________
Key Events and Impacts in Modern Egyptian History Nasser and the 1950s19
50s:
Fre
e O
ffice
rs M
ovem
ent
June
195
6 Co
nstit
ution
Oct
ober
195
6-M
arch
195
7: S
uez C
risis
July
195
7: N
ation
al A
ssem
bly
elec
tions
Febr
uary
195
8: U
AR D
ecla
red
(195
8-19
71)
1958
: 5 Y
ear P
lan
1956
: Nas
ser C
oup
July
195
6: N
ation
aliza
tion
Janu
ary
1957
: US
Adop
ts
Eise
nhow
er D
octr
ine
Ex. U
S re
spon
se to
Sue
z Cris
is,
affirm
ation
of r
enew
ed in
regi
on a
nd
ackn
owle
dgm
ent o
f str
ateg
ic lo
catio
n,
oil,
and
Cold
War
sign
ifica
nce
Late
195
7: N
ation
aliza
tion
of
rem
aini
ng E
urop
ean
asse
ts
Mar
ch 1
958:
Nati
onal
Ass
embl
y cl
osed
Directions: write the significance/impacts for each event
1961
: Ara
b So
cial
ism(O
ct. 1
961:
con
fisca
ted
prop
erty
from
“re
actio
nary
ca
pita
lists
”)
1964
: Pre
siden
t of N
on-A
ligne
d M
ovem
ent,
2nd
NAM
con
fere
nce
held
in C
airo
Mar
ch 1
965:
Re-
elec
ted
Pres
iden
t (6
yr. t
erm
)
May
196
7: S
ix D
ay W
ar
Janu
ary
1968
: War
of A
ttriti
on w
ith Is
rael
(1
967-
1970
)
28 S
epte
mbe
r 197
0: D
eath
of N
asse
r
1971
: Col
laps
e of
the
UAR
Janu
ary
1964
: Ara
b Le
ague
sum
mit
in C
airo
1964
: Asw
an D
am –
firs
t sta
ge o
f con
stru
ction
co
mpl
eted
1966
: Exe
cute
d Sa
yyed
Qut
b, le
ader
of t
he
Mus
lim B
roth
erho
od
Nov
embe
r 196
7: A
ccep
t of U
N R
esol
ution
242
July
197
0: H
igh
Dam
com
plet
ed
Oct
ober
197
0: A
nwar
Sad
at a
ssum
es P
resid
ency
(a
ssas
sinat
ed b
y fu
ndam
enta
list a
rmy
office
rs in
19
81)
Oct
ober
: 197
3: Y
om K
ippu
r War
Key Events and Impacts in Modern Egyptian History From Nasser to Sadat
June 1956New Constitution
-Islam-President (6 yrs)
-Universal suffrage-National Assembly
Wary of more democratic measures
benefit of the bourgeois
July 1957National Assembly
Elections-Women voted
-Poor underrepresented
March 1958National Assembly
closed-UAR declared
Rawya Attiya, in military garb, canvassing the support that would make her Egypt's first female parliamentarian
(1957)
July 1956Suez Canal
Nationalized
October 1956 – March 1957Suez Crisis
1950
s Fre
e O
ffice
rs M
ovem
ent &
Cou
p
1956
Nas
ser C
oup
The man at the tap
Jank
owsk
i, Ja
mes
P. N
asse
r's E
gypt
, Ara
b N
ation
alism
, and
the
Uni
ted
Arab
Rep
ublic
. Bou
lder
, CO
: Lyn
ne R
ienn
er,
2001
. Prin
t
Robert Stephens Nasser (1971)Although afraid of creating a military dictatorship, Nasser and the Free Officers banned opposition parties, student groups, and trade unions, in hopes of creating a mass movement of the people behind the Liberation Rally – but Nasser was dismayed to find the masses did not follow the army’s charge, but hung back as on-lookers.
Anthony Nutting from Nasser (1972) But at the outset, Nasser’s aims and ambitions were strictly limited to the eviction of the British. Far from being directed against the throne, his initial object was, so he subsequently told me, to try and put some stuffing into the king and by creating a military opposition to British imperialism within the army, to strength Farouk’s resistance to further encroachments on Egypt’s sovereignty. Neither Nasser nor his conspirators had any love for the king or his palace clique.
Peter Mansfield, A History of the Middle East (1991)The years 1956-1959 marked the high tide of Nasserism as he seemed to sweep all before him. His appeal to the Arabs – especially the younger generation, who formed the majority – was overwhelming. They saw him as a modern Saladin who would unite them in order to drive out the Zionists, the crusaders of the 20th century. The danger for Nasser was that he was rising expectations which neither he nor Egypt could fulfill.
Said Aburish, Nasser: The Last Arab (2004)There is no escaping the conclusion that Nasser represented an odd type of dictator. He manifested a need to be loved. . . which most other dictators do not have. His dictatorship was a mixture of populism and a need to be accepted as a man of principle.
Anne Alexander’s Nasser (2005)By the 1952 coup, Nasser’s claim that parliament democracy would return seemed highly unlikely and Nasser himself claimed “in a year and half we have been able to wipe out corruption. If the right to vote were restored, the same landowners would be elected – the feudal interest. We don’t want the capitalists and the wealthy back in power. If we open the government to them now, the revolution might just as well be forgotten . . .” Despite widespread poverty and illiteracy, Egyptian agriculture was actually highly capitalized, mechanized and well integrated into the world economy. But the Officers’ campaign struck a social and emotional chord with millions.
Martin Meredith, The State of Africa (2006)Yet whatever disasters befell Egypt, Nasser never lost his popularity with the masses. When after the 1967 defeat , he announced his resignation, popular protests propelled him back into office. His reputation as the man who stripped the old ruling class of their power, nationalized their wealth, booted out foreigners, restored to Egypt a sense of dignity and self-respect and led the country towards national regeneration – all of this counted for far more than the setbacks.
Eric Hobsbawm in Revolutionaries (2007) Although illegal in the use of force, the military takeover was a genuinely innovating military regime of the type that appear where the necessity of social revolution is evident, where several of the objective conditions of it are present, but also where the social bases or institutions of civilian life are too feeble to carry it out. The armed forces, being in some cases, the only available force with the capacity to take and carry out decisions, may have to take the place of civilian forces, even to the point of turning their officers into administrators.