Jacobin Radio Dig: Thawra Ep. 4 - From the Nakba to Nasser
Mar 11, 2024
Abdel Razzaq Takriti, a history professor at Rice University and an expert on Arab and Palestinian revolutionary movements, delves into the political tides following the 1948 Nakba. He discusses the rise of Gamal Abdel Nasser and the 1952 Egyptian coup that sparked a wave of revolutionary nationalism. The conversation also explores British colonial legacies in Palestine, the influence of Soviet support on Arab communist parties, and the profound impact of regional struggles on Palestinian identity and politics, illuminating a crucial era in the Arab world.
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British Suppressed Egyptian Democracy
- British occupation of Egypt suppressed democratic movements to protect imperial interests.
- Multiple class interests created complex struggles for constitutional reform and independence.
Nasser's Educated, Varied Formation
- Nasser and Free Officers mostly came from petty bourgeois backgrounds with access to education.
- Nasser was exposed to both Arab Renaissance and Western republican ideas shaping his ideology.
Coup Became Broader Revolution
- 1952 Egyptian coup was more a tactical military takeover than a mass social revolution.
- Post-coup, it led to profound political, social, and economic transformations in Egypt.