A History of the Modern Middle East by Cleveland William L. Bunton Martin

Author:Cleveland, William L.,Bunton, Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780813350370
Publisher: Hachette Book Group (Perseus)
Published: 2016-05-31T04:00:00+00:00

CONCLUSION

The Nasser years in Egypt are associated with a number of significant events and policies: the Czech arms agreement, the Suez crisis, the United Arab Republic, the proclamation of Arab socialism, and the adoption of agrarian reform, to name a few. However, the sentiment associated with the Nasser phenomenon cannot be fully explained by a list of social reforms or foreign policy ventures. Nasserism was a feeling, a sense of excitement, a hope for a new Arab future. To be sure, it was clear to many that Egypt’s bureaucracy was inflated, that its state-run industries were inefficient, and that its educational system was overcrowded. But despite these and other widely recognized shortcomings, Egypt and its dynamic president appeared to have set in motion a positive process of national transformation. Decisive action had cast aside the oppressive past, and Egypt had gained a measure of independence and pride that at the time seemed enviable and worthy of emulation.

Still, the leadership role that had given Nasser his stature proved a burden as well as a blessing. To retain his—and Egypt’s—leading place in the Arab movement, he had to renew his image from time to time. In spring 1967, he was presented with an opportunity to stand up to Israel and to bring the other Arab states in line with Egypt’s position. Nasser seized the opportunity, and (as we will see in the next chapter) in so doing, he exposed his country to a humiliating military defeat that called into question all he appeared to have achieved.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.