Gamal Nasser Research Paper

Nasser – Rise to power
It’s June 5th 1967 and whole world is witness of Israel’s pre-emptive strike on Arab countries: Egypt, Jordan and Syria. During the Six Days War Israel showed her military superiority with destroying air forces in Egypt, Jordan and Syria only by one day. Later on, after five days of fighting Sinai Peninsula, West Bank with Jerusalem and Golan Heights are conquered in almost record breaking time. Consequences for Egypt and Jordan are not only unbearable in forms of lost soldiers and land, but the sole defeat was enormously humiliating. The effect of the Six Day war was a significant aspect which led to dramatic events in Europe and Middle East. Civil war in Jordan and Palestinian expulsion to Syria, hijacks, formation of Black September and its massacre in Munich during 1972
Summer Olympics are examples of other many long term consequences that persist until nowadays. Israel’s justification for the pre emptive strike were claims for Golan Heights in the north, blockade of Straits of Tiran by Egypt, alliance Jordan with Egypt and mainly mobilisation of 55, 000 Egyptian army, which was followed by military preparations to full scale intervention. According to many historians the war also meant the end of Egypt era called Nasser. Without this dictator no armed confrontation between Egypt and Israel would have happened, because it was him, who provoked Israel with rhetoric speeches about her destruction and mobilisation of soldiers in Sinai. It is important to mention that Jordan and Syria were drawn to this conflict. Therefore a question comes: how did he rise to power?

In 1942 Gamal Abdul Nasser joined and later led the Free Officers Movement.
This group of young and ambitious army officers was founded as result from frustration with failure King Farouk and government unable to stand up to United Kingdom. Although Egypt gained sovereignty in 1922 there was still very large influence from British government. For example the British had full control over the Suez Canal and were able to leave their 70, 000 soldiers to supervise, but in real terms basically enforced, what they wanted. As well in case of attack, Britain was allowed to defend Egypt the status of Sudan, founded in 1899 and authorized them to have control over Sudan. Also bad economic situation and Shadow of ever-present imperialism strengthen Nasser’s determination to change the Egyptian monarchy. Furthermore, Anglo – Egyptian Treaty was another evidence of Egypt being unable to stand up against British influence. The treaty included permission for Egypt to join the League of Nations, guarantee of station 10,000 troops in Canal Zone for at least next 20 years and in Sudan. For those reason the bloodless coup of King Farouk’s government on July 23rd 1952 was
inevitable. Secondly, as soon as he ascended presidency in 1954 he began to impose domestic policies. He introduced social policies which included ban of political parties and outlawing radical groups that id not support himself or his government. By this action he achieved his main goal – united domestic society. However, there was still one radical group known as Muslim Brotherhood, who although shared same idea – independence of Egypt from United Kingdom was seen as a threat to him. The difference was small but very important. Muslim Brotherhood wanted an Islamist country, on the other side Nasser did not and that is why they attempted to assassinate Nasser on October 26th 1954. Right after this event Nasser disbanded the group and imprisoned leaders and members of Muslim Brotherhood. The rest, who were not imprisoned permanently, was brutally oppressed by the government. In the end he was able to found Ministry of Public Health in the country providing at least basic heath care services for all Egyptian citizens. Another Nasser’s achievement was improvement of education system. It is possible to say that these policies with help of building Aswan High Dam helped him to gain more popularity among Egyptians.

Finally, frustration of Arab world after lost 1948 First Arab – Israeli War might be considered as the most vital force that moved Gamal Abdul Nasser forward to power. He could have been seen as a hero, who whole Arab world desperately needed and who will lead them to final destruction of Israel, the most untolerable state in the Middle East, which was not recognized until March 26th 1979.

"Israel is an artificial state which must disappear." * http://cojs.org/cojswiki/Quotes_by_Gamal_Abdel_Nasser,_1954-1967.

“What was taken by force, can only be restored by force.” * http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Society/gamal-abdel-nasser-biography.html

On the other hand, it was him who was able to stand up to Western World and attained full Egyptian independence including forcing British troops out and even after event with Sevres Protocol he managed to retain the Suez Canal from Great Britain and France. Even though Nasser might be seen as a dictator his rise to power shaped Egypt for half century. As proponent of Arab nationalistic movement he was able to build a state based on same culture, language and background. However, very recent events of overthrown dictator Mubarak and Muslim Brotherhood seizing power may likely change Egypt and whole Middle East as just Gamal Abdul Nasser did in his past. The more suitable question arrives: how it will look like, when a radical Islamist group has the power?