Great Britain yielded to increasing postwar demands by
Egyptians that they should rule themselves and granted inde-
pendence to Egypt in 1922. In many ways, however, it was inde-
pendence in name only, and British influence remained strong
in Egypt for the next three decades. During this time, Egypt
became a monarchy ruled by a pro-European king. The last
king, Farouk, was ousted in a rebellion by army officers in 1952.
That coup d’etat was officially led by a man named Muham-
mad Neguib, but he was really a figurehead. The power behind
the revolt was concentrated in the hands of a young officer
named Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Nasser came to power officially in 1956, and over a period
of 15 years, he had a powerful impact on Egypt’s society and
its place in the world. He directed what many called a “revolu-
tion,” appealing to the common man by breaking up the large
land holdings of Egypt’s wealthy elite and redistributing them
as smaller parcels to peasants. He aspired to be a leader for all
of the Arab countries by spearheading a 1967 military con-
frontation with their common enemy, Israel. The results were
disastrous for Egypt (as is described in Chapter 5), but he was
successful in wresting the Suez Canal from foreign control.
He situated Egypt firmly in the orbit of the Soviet Union, but
only after trying to steer a course away from loyalty to either of
the great powers. Although he was not always successful in his
Egyptians that they should rule themselves and granted inde-
pendence to Egypt in 1922. In many ways, however, it was inde-
pendence in name only, and British influence remained strong
in Egypt for the next three decades. During this time, Egypt
became a monarchy ruled by a pro-European king. The last
king, Farouk, was ousted in a rebellion by army officers in 1952.
That coup d’etat was officially led by a man named Muham-
mad Neguib, but he was really a figurehead. The power behind
the revolt was concentrated in the hands of a young officer
named Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Nasser came to power officially in 1956, and over a period
of 15 years, he had a powerful impact on Egypt’s society and
its place in the world. He directed what many called a “revolu-
tion,” appealing to the common man by breaking up the large
land holdings of Egypt’s wealthy elite and redistributing them
as smaller parcels to peasants. He aspired to be a leader for all
of the Arab countries by spearheading a 1967 military con-
frontation with their common enemy, Israel. The results were
disastrous for Egypt (as is described in Chapter 5), but he was
successful in wresting the Suez Canal from foreign control.
He situated Egypt firmly in the orbit of the Soviet Union, but
only after trying to steer a course away from loyalty to either of
the great powers. Although he was not always successful in his
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق