Arab Nationalism Flashcards
What is nationalism
- Although nationalism often has negative connotations, as post-colonialist states tend to inherit a military superstructure in order to gain independence, nationalism is also an acknowledgement of a population aiming to create unity.
In the Arab sense it was about combing history, culture and language as a basis of Arab identity.
Where did Arab nationalism originate from?
Developed in Mashreq regions specifically in Egypt and Syria.
Developed between the final years of the Ottoman Empire and especially after World War II
Ottoman Empire was responsible for the decay in the Modern Middle East where it had become corrupted and had to reconsider its place in the world-wide context. Pan-Arabism surfaced after Ottoman Empires, attempt to impose a Turkish Culture in Arab world.
An amalgam of old elites and new social forces at once to regain control of their society after seeing it being degraded by outside forces and deeply influenced by the challenge of the West.
Arab is not a race, rather a cultural unification of a selection of states.
Objective of Pan-Arabism
1-Independence
2-Support for Palestinian Arabs against Hebrew immigration
3-Effort to keep alive the idea of Arab unity, threatened by the creation of states from different provinces of Ottoman Empire.
Influences of Arabism
1930-1960s, all Arab states gained independence and the birth of locally based nationalisms.
Spearheaded by the creation of the Arab League, Ba’th Party in Syria and rise of Nasser in Egypt.
Arab League
- When and who formed?
- Why it was formed?
- Objectives
Est- March 1945, Cairo
Original members – (voluntarily) Egypt, S.A, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Transjordan, Yemen. Currently has 22 members including Palestine.
Formed at the time of the UN and Arab league sought to combine joint defence and economic matters. Formed in response to concerns about post-colonial divisions and strong opposition to Jewish State in Palestine.
seek close cooperation on matters of communication, culture, nationality, economics, social welfare and health.
oStrengthen ties and coordinate policies in directing them towards the common good.
o Denounces Violences and seeks to mediate conflict peacefully.
1965 - establishment of a common market.
1961 - helped to achieve independence of Kuwait.
Criticisms of Arab League
- Diversity
- Bias
- legality
- Outcomes
No clear political line promoting progress or security. Argued that failures lie in the fact the Arab world is extremely diverse with considerable differences in literacy rates, conflicting interests and some states closer to colonial powers.
More representative of the needs of autocratic regimes rather than looking out for the welfare of the people. Favours Sunni sect putting doubts in mind of Shi’a and Kurdish groups + securing Egypt’s interests.
Lacks proper mechanisms to make sure decisions are legally binding when the League approves. – more of a ‘glorified debating partner’.
Continues to be forum where announcements can be made but there is limited action taken to ensure the maximisation of the aims of the union. Failed to manipulate its advantage in helping gain Palestinian statehood and address the matters of the Arab spring of 2011.
The role of the Ba’ath Party
- When and who and why formed?
- what were the principles of the party?
- movements within the party.
- Features of the party
- outcomes of the party
Est 1943 by 2 intellectuals who wanted to revive Arab world - Michael Aflaq resented French who had mandate on Syria and Lebanon.
UNITY, LIBERTY AND SOCIALISM - unify Arab states into a single socialist state which would reform Arab society and character and foster emergence of morally ideal society.
Ba’athist coup lead in Iraq and Aflaq began to coordinate movements between Syria and Iraq as well as holding talks with Nasser. Despite distrusting Nasser, he wanted the support of the Egyptians but talks resulted in no major results and so ceased to play no major role in Syrian politics after 1966.
Features: Constitutional democracy Freedom of speech Equal rights Redistribution of wealth Social insurance Free trade unions Guaranteed minimum standard of living Anti-colonial FP
In ideological terms its message in-toed progressive social and economic and political values with a clear anti-colonial basis. Ba’athist party took control in Syria 1963 and Iraq in 1968-2003.
In Iraq the party’s power was concentrated in the hands of Saddam Hussein.
Main threat to Ba’th in Syria was the Muslim Brotherhood and in Iraq Kurdish and Shiite opposition.
Egypt and Nasser
- Nasser
- his influence
- his policies
President 1954 until 1970
reputation enhanced after Suez crisis. Although Pan-Arabism already part of Egyptian society prior toNasser - he gained significant strides in emitting Arab unity against western imperialism.
Most important for popularising the idea of Arab nationalism, using Egypt’s size and strategic importance to emphasise the idea of Pan-Arabism. Arab was more than just a cultural identity, it was the ability to influence other countries in the Middle East.
-In many speeches he referred Arabs as “one nation”
To create internal strength Nasser implemented social and economic policies designed to unite the country and to harness the economic resources as well as mobilizing the country.
- banned political parties to eradicate competition.
Introduction of a social contract - food and clothing subsides, rent control and low cost housing. better health care.
What are the causes for the decline in Pan-Arabism?
1967 - Six Day War - Israel
- Bankrupted the Arab order and highlighted their flawed ideology.
- Palestinians launched attacks and Arab states had failed to help them - emerged the PLO and Palestinian nationalism
Anwar Sadat came to power and sought to re-orient polices to the West. E.g - external foreign injection of cash.
Radical shift towards Islam.
- SA and Gulf States concerned with the re-birth of Islam - supported financially and culturally.
1979 - Islamic Republic of Iran
