Nationalist Movement in Egypt

I. Independence of Egypt

A) World War I: Britain declared Egypt a Protectorate in 1914. During WWI, the defense of the Suez Canal was one of the top priorities for the British. Large contingents of Entente forces were stationed in Egypt and drained the area of vital food and supplies. This led to inflation, food shortages, and famine.

Both Violent and Non-Violent Movements

B) Post WWI: Educated Nationalist Elite were denied access to the Versailles Treaty to discuss self-determination. Many Egyptian leaders resigned and called for mass demonstrations. Student led riots, national unrest and the deaths of hundreds led the British to allow the creation of the Wafd Party, a nationalist movement.

C) British Withdrawal: The British decided to prepare Egypt for eventual independence and began to leave in stages. Starting in 1922 and ending in 1936, the British withdrew from Egypt. However, they preserved the Khedival Regime and reserved the right to reoccupy Egypt if threatened by a foreign power.

King Fuad I

D) New Government: Elite leaders become very corrupt and take opportunity to increase their own families’ fortunes. Did not pass laws to help majority of peasants or to create much needed public works.

E) Results: 40 years of Nationalists rule led to domination of elite who owned 70% of the cultivatable land 98% of the people were illiterate. Malnutrition and poor health care was chronic.

II. Weakening of Khedival Regime?A) Free Officers Movement: Secret organization established

in Egyptian army in the 1930s. Wanted to conduct a revolution and replace the Khedival regime and eliminate British presence in the Suez Canal.

B) Muslim Brotherhood: Founded by Hasan al-Banna in 1928. Developed contempt for wealthy Egyptian minority and Europeans. Committed to a revivalist approach to Islam, sweeping land reforms, creation of unions, hospitals, and schools. Developed boycotts, strikes, militant youth groups, and assassination squads. Al-Banna was assassinated by Khedive Farouk in 1949

“We will not stop at this point but will pursue this evil force to its own lands, invade its Western heartland, and struggle to overcome it until all the world

shouts by the name of the Prophet and the teachings of Islam spread throughout the world. Only then will Muslims achieve their fundamental

goal… and all religion will be exclusively for Allah.”

C) Arab-Israeli War of 1948: Egypt suffered a humiliating defeat to Israel, declaring war on the newly named nation along with five other Arab nations. Another loss in a clash with the British in 1952 over their influence in the Suez Canal led to more discontent.

D) Gamal Abdul Nasser: Led an almost bloodless military coup and overthrew the corrupt Khedive Farouk.

Arab-Israeli War 1948

III. Gamal Abdul NasserA) By 1954, Nasser disbanded all political

parties and created a Military Dictatorship.B) Used socialist policies to develop nation. Limited how much land and individual could own – excess lands were seized and redistributed to landless peasants State took control of Bank and businesses Developed state-financed education through college level State became Egypt’s largest employer. Over 30% of population was hired by state State subsides were used to lower food prices State-controlled development in Industry was established based on USSR Five Year Plans Restricted Foreign investments and seized some foreign owned land

C) Nasser wanted to destroy Israel modernize Egypt, forge a Pan-Arab State and support socialist revolutions in neighboring lands.

D) 1956: Claimed full control of the Suez Canal from the British.

“This money is ours, this canal is property of Egypt. The canal was

dug by Egypt’s sons, and 120,000 of them died while working.”

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E) Failures: Aswan High Dam, built in the 1960s, located in the upper Nile and 17 times larger that the Great Pyramid. Population boom quickly used up newly arable land. Interference of the Nile led to increase number of parasites that caused blindness, led to a decline in fertility of farmland in lower delta, foreign investment funds ceased, and the USSR could not give enough support. Nasser’s projects were too costly. Also, Egypt lost to Israel in Six Day War in 1967. Nasser died in 1970.

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IV. Anwar SadatA) Anwar Sadat develops policy of infitah- meaning

opening. His goal was to encourage foreign investment and private business. HE began to dismantle Nasser’s huge state-run economy.

B) Middle Class began to rise and emerge as a powerful force.

C) After fighting the Israeli’s to a stalemate in 1973, Sadat became the first Arab leader to make peace and recognize the State of Israel and their right to exist. Put an end to costly wars.

D) Replaced Soviet support with United States aid, hoping to improve economic conditions.E) He was assassinated in 1981 by Islamic Fundamentalists

V. Hosni MubarakA) Continued to support the policies of Anwar

SadatB) Farm output expanded, but could not keep

up with population increases.

C) Islamic Fundamentalists blame the government for failures, look to Islamic law as the solution. Some groups developed schools, medical services and relief for the poor. Others developed extremist groups who use terrorism toward the government.

D) Recently overthrown by popular uprising who demanded more freedoms – Muslim Brotherhood looks to dominate new government.

Failed Traditional Rebellion

Western Inspired Nationalist Movement

(Leaders & Goals)

WWI, WWII, Cold War

Independence Violent or Non-violent

(Events/Methods)

Resurgence of Indigenous Challenges

(Major Problems)

Building a Nation-State

(Structure of new Gov’t)

Modern, but not Western Society

DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONALISM1900-Present

• Mahdist Revolt

•1914 – Britain declares Egypt a protectorate, Defense of Suez Canal a priority for British

•Cold War – Nasser – Soviet aidSadat – U.S. aid

•Hassan al-Banna (Muslim Brotherhood)

• Gamal Nasser socialist, state control, modernize, claim Suez Canal, Pan-Arabism

•Anwar Sadat encourage investment and business, peace with Israel

•Military coup

•Non-violent

•Nasser – socialist, nationalized industries

•Sadat – encouraged foreign investment, middle class rose

•Islamic fundamentalism

•Population increase

•Rapid urbanization

•Poverty

•Westernization vs. traditionalism

•Government is modernized, the people not totally….

Turkey

Leader: Mustafa Kemal AtaturkGoals: “regain territory from France and Britain

lost in WWI Build a state based on Turkish

NationalismEvents/Methods: Organized military offensive in 1920 and

reconquered Turkey Deposed of the Sultan in 1922 Created a Republic Developed a secular western type state

Non-Violent Movements

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

Problems

Major ReformsExamples of Totalitarian Rule

Ottoman Empire collapsed and split into states after losing WWI

Turkish people wanted to avoid being controlled by

the Sultan or by the foreigners like the British,

French or Greeks.The economy was weak

and Turkey lacked modern industry, military

and technology.

Secularized the government –

separation of Islam and the government –

removed the Sultan and caliph position

Westernization policy – Latin alphabet, western

calendar, developed factories, railroads,

western fashion- Everyone was forced to

have a surnameNationalist movement

led to Armenian genocide

Ended Sharia law and gave equal rights to women

Imprisoned anyone who wore Turkish clothing –

must wear western stylesOnly one political party

allowed – no one allowed to question his policies.

Use of censorship and propaganda – schools,

newspapers, government

His military campaigns led to victory in the Turkish War of Independence. Atatürk then embarked upon a program of political, economic, and cultural reforms, seeking to transform the former Ottoman Empire into a modern and secular nation-state

Westernization and

Modernization of Turkey

Film Clip start at 45:33

TurkeyResults: 1923 – Turkish Republic is created Ataturk becomes first President Creates a Constitution Westernized and modernized Allowed more women’s rights NATO membership

Major Problems: Racial tensions – Armenians and Greeks Kemal- became authoritarian, unfair elections Military coups – 1960, 1971, 1980, 1997) Resentment – rise of Islamic Fundamentalism Iraqi war – fear of Kurdish state

Non-Violent Movements

The paranoia is in bloom, the PRTransmissions will resume, they'll try to push drugs, keep us all dumb down and hope that We will never see the truth around, so come on

Another promise, another scene, another Package not to keep us trapped in greed with all the Green belts wrapped around our minds and endless Red tape to keep the truth confined, so come on

They will not force usAnd they will stop degrading usAnd they will not control usWe will be victorious, so come on

Interchanging mind control, come let the Revolution take its toll, if you could Flick a switch and open your third eye, you'd see that We should never be afraid to die, so come on

UprisingRise up and take the power back, it's time that The fat cats had a heart attack, you know that Their time is coming to an end, we have to Unify and watch our flag ascend, so come on

They will not force usThey will stop degrading usThey will not control usWe will be victorious, so come on

Hey, hey, hey, heyHey, hey, hey, heyHey, hey, hey, hey

They will not force usThey will stop degrading usThey will not control usWe will be victorious, so come on

Hey, hey, hey, hey

Music Clip

Process of Decolonization and Nation- Building

Surge of anti-colonial nationalism after 1945. Leaders used lessons in mass politicization and mass mobilization of 1920’s and 1930’s.

Three patterns:1. Violent Revolutions and Civil War (China, Algeria,

Vietnam, Palestine)2. Non-Violent, negotiated independence (India,

Ghana, Turkey)3. Both violent and non-violent methods (Kenya,

Egypt, South Africa)

Nasser in Egypt

Ataturk in TurkeyNkrumah in Ghana

Nehru in India Kenyatta in Kenya

Mao Zedong in China