DOMESTIC POLICIES UP TO 1955 Economic change – Land Reform -In a population of 22 million, 16 millions depended upon farming and land shortage was a big problem. -The FOM was not the first to attempt land reform. In 1940 it was intended to limit the size of the farm, but the King and the Wafd had not supported this reform. -Both prominent Marxists and US government had been consulted on how the reforms should be carried out.

Political change – The road to a single-party state Liberation Rally -The Wafd Party, The Muslim Brotherhood and the communists were still popular. The RCC had intended to include what they called “purged” parties to be part of the government. -By January 1953, all political parties except the Muslim Brotherhood were abolished, along with trade unions and student political groups. -In their place, the Liberation Rally was set up to become a mass movement of the people. -Nasser became its secretary and he promised the Rally would deliver “unity, discipline and work”.

The Philosophy of Revolution -Nasser saw the dangers of a military government evolving into a dictatorship and expressed his determination that the military officers should only lead the way. -In his manifesto which was written in 1953 and published in 1954, Nasser spoke that creating a truly democratic system was proving difficult in a land where a class system was so entrenched. -Nasser also wrote about his view that Egypt was central to Arab, African and Islamic worlds.

The abolition of the monarchy and the entry of Nasser into the government -In the summer of 1953, the monarchy was abolished and Egypt became a republic. General Naguib became President and Prime Minister. Nasser entered as Deputy Prime Minister and his close friend Abdel Hakim Amer became commander-in-chief of the armed forces. -Nasser claimed that parliamentary democracy would soon return to Egypt, but this seemed unlikely after an interview in (see source d page 227)

Nasser – steps to power 1)Naguib is undermined There were some differences between Nasser and Naguib:  Nasser did not want to wait for reforms that seemed too radical for Naguib.  Naguib wanted a parliamentary democracy, Nasser did not.  Naguib wanted better relations with the Muslim Brotherhood, Nasser did not.  Naguib wanted to end the military rule, Nasser wanted to continue using the army to achieve his goals.  Naguib called the events of July a coup, Nasser called them a revolution.

-In February 1954, Naguib offered his resignation. It was accepted because it was claimed he had wanted to establish a dictatorship. (see source e page 227) -Naguib was reinstated due to it was not easy to remove a poplar president and there was a pro-Naguib faction within the army. -Nasser agreed to reinstate Naguib, but with Nasser as Prime Minister. 2) Popular unrest is used to call for change -Nasser gave a speech in which he pledged to restore parliamentary government, to lift the ban of political parties, to end censorship, to release gradually political prisoners. -The Council of the Revolution would surrender its powers to a constituent assembly.

-This caused consternation among many sectors, especially those who supported the Liberation Rally and feared the democracy would lead the return of political elites. -Nasser used his position as secretary of the LR to organize strikes and demonstrations for the continuation of the revolution. He was supported by workers, peasants, and middle class who wanted a strong government. 3) Nasser’s response to attempted assassination -Mahmud Abdul Latif (member of the MB) tried to kill Nasser in Eight of the conspirators were sentenced to death and six of them were executed.

-Prison camps were built to contain any suspects. Naguib was accused of conspiring with the MB (which was dissolved) and the communists. He was removed from office. 4) The Presidency In January 1955, Nasser was appointed president by the RCC.

FOREIGN POLICIES Non-alignment -Nasser attended the Asian-African Bandung Conference in Indonesia in 1955, and the Non-aligned Conference in Belgrade in Aligned%20Movement%20-%20Final%20Document%20%28Belgrade_Declaration%29.pdf -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)