Gamal Abdel-Nasser Revolutionary Leader of Egypt (1918-1970)
Egypt, History, 9/28/2000

The first real Egyptian ruler of Egypt, the most outstanding national anti-colonialist leader and most influential advocate of Arab nationalism and unity in the middle of the 20th Century, Gamal Abdel-Nasser stands out as a prominent landmark in Egypt's contemporary history.

His tenure, starting with the liberation of Egypt from British colonialism, liberation movements around the world and socio-economic development of Egypt and establishment of non-alignment movement as universally-acknowledged world policy has been highly eventful and influential on both regional and international levels.

Nasser's rule, with all its achievements and set-backs, has both firmly implanted Egypt in its strategic position on the world chart and turned the leader into a sort of a legend for generations to come.

Born in Alexandria on January 15, 1918 to a family originating in Beni Morr, Assuit Governorate, Nasser received his secondary education in Alexandria.

At the age of fifteen, he participated in anti-British demonstrations, expressing popular indignation at colonialism conspiracies with the collusion of the Royal Palace against the freedom of the nation.

When he moved to Cairo, he pursued his patriotic activity and head the executive committee for secondary school students. In a demonstration against British occupation in November 1935, he was received a bullet, which left behind a scar on his forehead.

In 1938, Nasser graduated from the Royal Military Academy and joined the Infantry Corps at the Manqabad barracks, Assuit province, where he started to mediate of revolution as a means of changing the deteriorating conditions of the country.

On February 4, 1942 the British Ambassador, supported by an armed escort, entered the Royal Palace and forced King Farouq to agree on the formation of a Wafdist government headed by Nahas Pasha.

This incident was a departing-point in Nasser's revolutionary thought.

The period from 1942 to 1948 was decisive for both his personal life and the revolution. During this period, he formed the nucleus of the free officers who later led the revolution.

His work as an instructor at the Army Staff College gave him an added advantage in enlisting new members of the movement. In 1948, Britain renounced its Mandate over Palestine, which was followed immediately by the declaration of the state of Israel. Nasser was sent to Palestine to participate in the war staged by the Egyptian and other Arab armies against Israel.

There, he held the first meeting of the free officers. Strongly affected by the defeat of Arab armies and the scandal, later disclosed, of the supply of faulty arms, in which members of the Palace clique were implicated, Nasser made up his mind to accelerate the implementation of his plan for the revolution.

In his book, "From Giza Pyramids to Nasser's", Mathew Renato Bistoni says,"British occupation of Egyptian territories and the Palestine problems have strongly affected Gamal Abdel-Nasser since he was a child and throughout his military service.

This has led Nasser to believe that it was inevitable that the army should itself take up the national assignment of salvaging the country from corruption".

Thanks to his organizational and leadership skills, Nasser successfully managed to form the free officers cells within and outside the army, ultimately leading to the success of the July 23,1952 Revolution.

In 1949, Nasser pursued the secret activity of the free officers who issued their first public statement in November.

In "Nasser's Egypt", Peter Mansfield says, " Egypt has revived a nation, where corruption and deterioration were rife and almost disconnected it from its past glory. In leading the country, he deliberately endeavoured to left it from the bottoms of poverty, ignorance, oblivion, neglect and revive the sense of integrity and international identity".

In line with the first of the Revolution's six principles ie; eradication of colonialism, Nasser fought the battles of military pacts and hegemony and revived the call for Arab nationalism.

The decision to nationalize the International Suez Canal Company was the breaking-point for the stage of stable political and economic independence. After the abortive tripartite aggression against Egypt in 1956, it was followed by the Egyptianization of the economy.

Then major development projects, salient of which was the Aswan High Dam project, was started.

Under Nasser's leadership, Egypt was a staunch supporter of national liberation movements.

Nasser was a co-founder of the non-aligned movement and the organization of African Unity.

He convened the first Arab Summit Conference (1964) to discuss concerted action for the Palestinian issue.

On the home front, Nasser's policy focused on the building of a strong economic base to support Egypt's pivotal role.

Domestic Achievements:

August 1952, civilian titles, as vestiges of the corrupt royal regime were abolished and government machinery purged.

September 1952, the first Agrarian Reform Law was issued, followed by further laws limiting individual and family landholding and widening land ownership base.

October 1952, general amnesty for political crimes.

1954, Evacuation Agreement was signed with Britain, thus ending more than seventy years of colonialization.

1955, Nasser broke western monopoly of arms by making an arms deal with Czechoslovakia.

July 1956, the Suez Canal was nationalized to provide funds for the ambitious High Dam project, following the withdrawal by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, US and Britain of their offers to finance the project.

October 1956, Nasser led national struggle against the tripartite aggression by British French and Israeli forces, until they withdrew in December1956.

1961, far-reaching socialist decisions were issued, and a variety of corporations nationalized.

1962, a national charter outlining a programme to develop Egypt along Arab socialist lines was adopted by the National Congress of Popular Forces.

During Nasser's rule, several major projects, chief of which was the Aswan High Dam, were built.

Many more giant factories and plants were established, including the iron and steel mills, aluminum complex, textile automobiles, tractors and foodstuff factories, in addition to military factories. More than 2000 factories were created.

Following the set-back of 1967 and occupation by Israel of the whole of Sinai Peninsula, Nasser offered his resignation, which was overwhelmingly rejected by the Egyptian people as expressed by the sweeping popular demonstrations on June 9 and 10, 1967.

During the ensuring years until his death in 1970, Nasser was personally involved in modernizing and reorganizing the Egyptian armed forces.

During 1968 and 1969, the Egyptian armed forces, under his close supervision, staged a valiant war of attrition against the Israeli army, which was only a prelude to the October 1973 victory.

Nasser's Foreign Policy:

Nasser rejected military regional pacts (Baghdad Pact) as vestiges of imperialistic policy in the Middle East.

In the Bandung Conference (1955), Nasser together with President Tito of Yogoslavia and Premier Nehru of India, declared the policy of positive neutrality which later developed into the non-Aligned Movement.

Strongly supported Algerian national liberation movement against French colonialism.

Provided strong military and political support to the republican revolution against royal regime in Yemen.

Under his leadership the first unitary Arab republic was created (1958-61) (The United Arab Republic).

Previous Stories:
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