Politics of the Middle East Pan-Arabism and The Arab Cold War

Sati' al-Husri “How Strange” We rebelled against the English; we rebelled against the French ...We rebelled against those who colonized our land and tried to enslave us ...We repeated the red revolutions many times, and we continued with our white revolutions over a number of years ...And for this we endured so much suffering, sustained so many losses, and sacrificed so many lives ...But, When we finally gained our liberty, we began to sanctify the borders that they had instituted after they had divided our land ...And we forgot that these borders were but the boundaries of the "solitary confinement" and the "house arrest" which they had imposed on us!

Pan Arabism/ Arab Nationalism In 1911, Muslim intellectuals and politicians formed al-Fatat ("the Young Arab Society") Arab Congress of 1913 in Paris, discuss desired reforms Arab Revolt during the First World War Damascus became the center of the Arab nationalist movement

Consequential Events for the Arab Nationalist Cause 1956 Suez Crisis, Egypt 1962 – 70 North Yemen Civil War Proxy conflict between Egypt and Saudi 1967 Six Day War Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon vs Israel 1973 October War Israel vs Egypt, Syria 1978 Camp David Agreement Israel - Egypt

Pan Arab Ideology “unite all the Arabic-speaking peoples within a single country.” Arab specific doctrine of liberation End of Western influence Removal of Arab governments dependent on the West Secular state informed by Islamic principles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fswb4a9jcU

Egypt, Nasserism Three Circles Theory: Ideology Arab African Islamic Ideology Socialism Independence non-alignment Arab unity under Egyptian hegemony

Super Power Competition The success of Nasserism depended upon 4 conditions 1) advanced weaponry 2) healthy, independent economy 3) ideology of transnational appeal 4) influence on the world stage Marshall Tito: maximize foreign aid and political clout in the context of the Cold War Avoid dependence on either of the competing powers Egypt belonged to no defense pact, hosted no foreign bases, and professed neither capitalism nor communism

Nasser’s Strategy (Soviet Model) Agriculture was to be transformed from above into an industrial powerhouse substituting state enterprise for private property and local production for foreign imports Manipulate super powers through neutrality Appeal ideologically to the regional and global masses Undermine conservative regimes

Syria Objectives more local than regional (Greater Syria) Bilad al Sham Hafez al-Assad, regional and international policies were tailored to Syria's own interests.

Iraq 1958 Monarchy overthrown, Abd al Karim Qasim, "Iraq first" policy 1963 Ba’th Party takes power The failure of the United Arab Republic (Syria-Egypt) spreads disillusionment with Arab Nationalism

Arab Cold War Malcolm Kerr sought “to dispel the notion of Arab politics as a projection of decisions made in Washington, London, Moscow, and Jerusalem.” Arab cold war cemented alliances between the revolutionary republics\USSR and the Monarchies\ US

Republics vs Monarchs Revolutionary Republics Egypt, Iraq, Syria Conservative Monarchies Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Kingdoms

Suez Crisis 1951 Anglo Egyptian Treaty abrogated ‘Playing the Superpowers’ US withdraws financial support for Aswan Dam Nationalization of the canal zone 1956 Tripartite Aggression, Britain, France, Israel Objectives: Retake Suez and overthrow Nasser

Ending the Crisis Diplomatic Pressure by US, USSR, UN forced withdrawal of UK, France US blocked UK IMF loans and threatened Israel with sanctions Saudi Arabia oil embargo on UK, France Canal re-opened April 1957 after the last IDF troops left Egypt in March

1) advanced weaponry 2) healthy, independent economy 3) ideology of transnational appeal 4) influence on the world stage.

North Yemen Civil War 1962 - 1970 September 1962, coupe in Sana Military officers succeeded in overthrowing the Imamate, a dynastic institution of Zaydi religious rulers. 1962 – 1967 Egyptian Expeditionary Force 70,000 troops, extensive military costs Increased Egyptian isolation from Republican partners

Republican victory Egypt unable to fully commit to either Yemen or Israel in 1967, jeopardizing its role in the Six Day War

Six Day War 1967 Crushing defeat for the Arab coalition Loss of Sinai Peninsula Demonstrated the limits of Arab cooperation Casualties Israel 1000 Arab Coalition 20,000

October War 1973 Surprise attack by Egypt and Syria during Yom Kippur Aggression ends in Arab defeat but demonstrates Israeli vulnerability

Camp David Agreement Recognition of Israel Formal Diplomatic Relations Return of the Sinai to Egypt Transfer of Authority in Gaza and West Bank End of Israeli settlement

Termination of the Unification Cause 1967 Six Day War 1970 Death of Nasser October War 173 Anwar al Sadat, Camp David Accords 1978

End of the Arab Cold War Republics vs Monarchs, replaced by sectarian divisions The failure of Pan Arabism leaves a void in the unity narrative Islam resurges as a unifying political force

Assassination of al Sadat Mubarak’s Rise to Power The Return of Political Islam