FOREIGN POLICIES Non-alignment -Nasser attended the Asian-African Bandung Conference in Indonesia in For Nasser the concept of non-alignment fitted easily with his anti- imperialist policies and he embraced the concept of “positive neutralism”. -Nasser wanted Egypt to be truly independent from external control, not easy to achieve in a bi-polar world where small countries fell under the influence of either the USA or USSR.

NASSER AND THE USA -When the FOM stage the coup of 1952, as long as they were anti- imperialist they were accepted by the USA. -The CIA was following closely the events in Egypt before the coup. -Nasser formed a friendship with Kermit Roosevelt (Franklin Roosevelt’s son and CIA’s middle eastern specialists). -However, Nasser was repeatedly disappointed by the refusal of the USA of selling arms to Egypt. -France was selling Mystère Jets to Israel, but refused to sell them to Nasser as long as he was supporting the Front Libération Nationale (FLN) in Algeria. -Egypt was encouraged to join the Baghdad Pact (Britain, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Turkey) in 1955, Nasser refused to join because it was led by Britain; this alliance would be too colonial. -Nasser believed a mutual defense pact in the Middle East should be organized by the Arab states.

NASSER AND THE USSR -Nasser approached the USSR for arms, it was the beginning of a relationship not so close as the Soviet Union would have liked. -Nasser was never a communist and had imprisoned and executed Egyptian communists. -There were tensions between the Soviet Union and those states that did not embrace communism. -This did not stop generous aid for Egypt. Nasser and Nikita Khrushchev (Soviet Prime Minister)

THE SUEZ CRISIS, Egypt took over Gaza after the 1948 war and had Palestinian refugees living under its administration. -Border raids by fedayeen into Israel were commonplace and often with reprisals. -In 1955, 39 Egyptians and Palestinians were killed and relations between Israel and Egypt worsened. -USSR were selling arms to Egypt, due to this the Western withdrew financial support for the constructions of Nasser’s most important project, the Aswan Dam. Wadi Halfa

-Nasser took the most controversial but also the most popular decision, on August 4 th 1956 the Suez Canal would be nationalized. -He did it an act of bravado than of economic necessity, as the income from the canal was insufficient to build the dam. -In September 1956, Israel, Britain and France hatched a secret plan to recover control of the canal. -Israel would invade Egypt, France and Britain would sent troops on the pretext to protect the canal since it was an important international waterway.

-Prime Minster of Canada, brokered a peace and UN peacekeeping forces were sent to patrol the border with Israel. -USA loudly condemned it. -Khrushchev said “You have attacked Egypt, knowing that it is considerably weaker than you are, that it does not have much of an army, and that it does not have many weapons. There are other countries which are entirely capable of coming to Egypt’s defense.” -Nasser emerged as a hero who had faced the last gap of imperialism, and his reputation reached new heights. RESULT OF THE CRISIS -Nasser’s popularity in Egypt was well and truly established. -Nasser’s fame spread beyond Egypt to neighboring states in the Middle East and Africa. -Relations between Egypt and Israel deteriorated.

-UN peacekeepers moved in to patrol the border between Egypt and Israel. -Relations with USSR grew warmer. -Britain and France realized they were not longer world powers. -Once again USA and USSR emerged as world powers. Nasser and Castro (1960)

DOMESTIC POLICIES POLITICAL CHANGE -In June, 1956 Nasser introduced a new constitution for the Egyptian republic. This stated Islam was the state religion and Egypt was part of the Arab world.

-The government was changed and was now led by a president (who hold in office for a 6 year term), a council of ministers and a National Assembly. -Nasser was reluctant to grant political freedom because he feared the voters would be drawn to the Muslim Brotherhood and the communists. -Women voted for the first time in July The National Assembly was full of middle class professionals. -There were significant changes, for instance: -Employment of children under 12 was abolished -Improvement of working conditions and health -Distribution of free food to the needy -Compulsory primary education -Secularize the religious courts These measures were criticized -Increase women’s rights by the Muslim Brotherhood