NASSER IN POWER By Lanie Corrigan, Simogne Hudson, Max Mendola, Laura Mitchell, Steven Soo, Ariana Stuart

FOREIGN POLICY NON-ALIGNMENT MOVEMENT USA USSR After the African-Asian Bandung Conference in Indonesia (1955), Nasser embraced positive neutralism* Wanted to make Egypt completely independent of outside control USA Nasser was very anti-imperialist and maintained only a civil relationship with the US in the 50s USSR Tense relationship because Nasser refused to accept communism *During the Cold War, Positive Neutralism was the act of non-alignment with USA and Russia.

SUEZ CRISIS (1956) August 4, 19 Nasser announces that he is going to nationalize the Suez canal. In September, Israel, Britain, and France stage a coup Stopped by the United Nations (sort of) Results: Nasser is viewed as a hero by Egyptians and neighboring states Relationships between USSR improve UN peacekeepers patrol Relationship with Israel is bad Rest of world starts to consider Egyptian area a sphere of influence

Domestic Policy Political Economic June 1956, New Constitution Islam was a state religion Egypt was part of Arab nation Government included: president, council of ministers, and national assembly National union replaced all political parties First election in 1957 included women’s suffrage Economic Nasser continued nationalization “Egyptianization” 1958, five year plan set in motion Nasser disappointed by results (corruption and low productivity)

The United Arab Republic 1958-Egypt unites with Syria to establish UAR Motivated by increased security for Egypt and opportunity for improved economy Ended after a coup in 1961

Post UAR Nasser blames collapse on bourgeoisie Afraid capitalists had dominated political and social media Nasser pushed for “Arab Socialism” by nationalizing private property

ARAB SOCIALISM Economic: Political: First Five Year plan in 1958 Radical land reform; limit on private property, and a system of cooperatives Political: Government restructured in 1963 after the National Charter “Military bureaucratic society” Reorganized Military

ECONOMIC PROBLEMS Population Class Struggle Aswan Dam Grain At first wanted more people for bigger army Country couldn’t support growing population Islam’s opposition toward birth control made population control difficult Class Struggle A new elite class formed from members of gov. The rest suffered from inflation due to indirect taxes Aswan Dam Completed in 1970 with USSR aid It bettered relations with the USSR Grain Dependent on US for grain Led to shortages in 1966 Nasser decided friendship would be impossible if Johnson was President

Nasser Images

Sources Mimmack, Brian, Eunice Price, and Daniela Senes. History. Oxford: Pearson Education, 2010. Print.