Gamal Abdel Nasser

[Ander]

Nasser was one of the first presidents of Egypt and served during the Cold War. He espoused some kind of pan-Arab socialist ideology and apparently incorporated some socialistic reforms into his country while maintaining a relationship with the Soviet Union. At the same time however, he allegedly had many communists in his own country arrested and is considered by some to have been an autocrat.

Overall do you think his rule was progressive? Was he a socialist? How socialist was Egypt under Nasser's rule? Is Nasserism a good ideology for other Arab states to follow?

Share your thoughts.

[Morpheus]

Nasser was a pan-arab nationalist. By his own admission, socialism wasn't his top priority. Although it's good that he fought imperialism, his other positions are very problematic. Good on imperialism, bad on everything else.

[jake williams]

He's an anti-colonial hero, and that can't be denied. I wouldn't flat out say he's "bad on everything else", as far as I understand Arab secularism, which is an extremely important idea, owes a lot to him. But he wasn't too impressive as regards much else and there was a lot wrong with him.

[Xiao Banfa]

For me the jury is sort of out on Nasser. He nationalised the suez canal, which was pure brilliance and it sure angered the french and british imperialists enough for them to start the 56' war.

But he tortured people horribly and basically goaded the muslim brotherhood into anti-communist, anti-secular radicalism.

Also according to Martin A. Lee in The Beast Reawakens he courted fascists.

[Janus]

Was he a socialist? How socialist was Egypt under Nasser's rule?
Nasser was a populist at best as his rule was characterized primarily by his charisma and powerful rhetoric. His only noteworthy social programs were probably the land reforms that made him popular in the rural areas.

[Sankara1983]

I once read that "Nasserism" isn't really an ideology but a personality cult, and thus couldn't be exported. His pet project, the union with Syria, lasted less than four years.

[ArabRASH]

He did nationalize alot of industries, including the Suez Canal. He received the Order of Lenin from the Soviet Union. He was certainly socialistic.

As an Arab, i love Nasser(noone can deny he was progressive and helped the Arab world break away from traditional values). As a Marxist, not so much.

I think Khrushchev summed it up pretty well:

"The Western powers are trying to denigrate Nasser, although Nasser is not a Communist. Politically, he is closer to those who are waging war on him. and he has even put Communists in jail...[but] Nasser is the hero of his nation, and our sympathies are on his side. We sent sharp letters to Britain, France and Israel —well, Israel, that was just for form, because, as you know, Israel carries no weight in the world, and if it plays any role, it was just to start a fight. If Israel hadn't felt the support of Britain, France and others, the Arabs would have been able to box her ears and she would have remained at peace. I think the British and French will be wise enough to withdraw their forces, and then Egypt will emerge stronger than ever."

[darkened day 92]

Gamal Abd Al Nasser before becoming a socialist was in the Muslim Brotherhood when he became president he betrayed them and tortured them and his opposition in political prison. Of Course his successors prove to be worse.
The problem was that he saw socialism as a free ride so he and all his loyal companions (which betrayed his cause when he died) auctioned off a lot of authentic Egyptian golden treasures to the Brits and the French and for almost nothing and then took it all to themseleves. They would have brought a fortune to the Egyptian economy if they sold it right and destirbuted it or even left it for tourists. He didn't boost anyone's moral about socialism. Behind the scenes he let his officers be as curropt as be Salah Nasser his head of police divorsed the famous actoress,Mariam Fakher Al Dein, from her husband and forced her husband to prison. What adds to the outrage is that actress was pregenant and he forced her to have an abortion all that so he can have a fling with her and then dump her. There were others that were victims to this. No Egyptian can forget the embaressement of the 6 day war.
His proceder Mohammed Nagib(the first egyptian president and the father of the Egyptian revolution) was locked in his house for decades with no human contact. His only companion was a dog. To the rate of Nagib's despiration he wrote his autobiogrophy on the walls of his house. That in itself angered loads of Egyptians.

[Sankara1983]

His proceder Nagib Mahfooz (the first egyptian president and the father of the Egyptian revolution) was locked in his house for decades with no human contact. His only companion was a dog. To the rate of Nagib's despiration he wrote his autobiogrophy on the walls of his house. That in itself angered loads of Egyptians.

You mean Muhammad Naguib. Naguib Mahfouz was the Nobel Prize-winning novelist.

[RNK]

Wow, that must've been one old dog.

[ArabRASH]

Naguib Mahfouz hahaha....great writer, but it wasn't him that wrote his story on the walls.

[darkened day 92]

shit not naguib mahfooz.Mohmmed naguib they have the same name thay were both socialist and i was not alright yesturday.It was Mohammed Naguib.
ArabRash did u see the the show in Ramadan about King Farouk. Wat did u think?

[Faux Real]

I think Nasser was much more of a positive force in near East politics and outweighed the bad, although Regina dispelled a lot of the mythology surrounding the man. General Najeeb wouldn't have centralized as much power as Nasser and it's unfortunate he was driven out through the power struggle. The remnants of that centralization ultimately led to the opportunist dictatorships of Sadat and Mubarak.

[darkened day 92]

He was much better than the other two presidents. The other two ruined the economy.Egypt was never ruled properly. Let's just hope for a revolution a good one this time.
Nasser was smart but unfair he was the best of the worst.

[bayano]

agree with the last two comments. from what i understand, he had some populistic socialistic policies that were decent for rural workers and others and combatted imperialism on a number of fronts both domestic and international. and he wrongly suppressed the communists and the muslim brotherhood through torture, mass detention, and criminalization. but certainly an autocrat who does some good for his people and does much against imperialism is better than the alternatives (like his successors, who made peace with israel, reversed many of his policies, and kowtow to the US)

but it was a different period, and hopefully leaders like that no longer exist, in favor of people with a far more revolutionary bend.