The National Union (Arabic: الاتحاد القومي al-Ittihâd al-Kawmi) was the only permitted party in the United Arab Republic,[2][3] the political union between Egypt and Syria that existed from 1957 to 1962.
National Union الاتحاد القومي | |
---|---|
General Secretary | Anwar Sadat (1957–1959) Kamal el-Din Hussein (1959–1962) |
Chairman | Gamal Abdel Nasser |
Founded | 28 May 1957[a] |
Dissolved | 1962 |
Preceded by | Liberation Rally |
Succeeded by | Arab Socialist Union |
Headquarters | Cairo, Egypt |
Ideology | Arab nationalism Arab socialism Pan-Arabism Nasserism Anti-Zionism Anti-Ikhwanism Republicanism Anti-communism |
Political position | Left-wing |
History
editThe National Union was founded by a presidential decree in Egypt in May 1957 by President Gamal Abdel Nasser as a successor to the Liberation Rally, with its permanent functions in effect from November 1957, shortly before the founding of the United Arab Republic.[4] After the formation of the UAR in 1958, the National Union also became the only legal political movement in Syria. In the latter country, the National Union was controlled by former Ba'athists and anti-communists.
The main objective of the National Union was to mobilize the population behind Nasser's policies, which consisted of pan-Arabism, reforms and the building of a welfare state. However, the National Union did not become a real mass movement, certainly not in Syria. The latter country withdrew from the UAR in September 1961. In 1962 Nasser replaced the National Union with the Arab Socialist Union (ASU).
Notes
edit- ^ Per Presidential Decree 481, "Formation of the National Union to achieve the goals of the July Revolution". Permanent organisational structures and the appointment of the first General Secretary were not published until early November 1957.[1]
References
edit- ^ "أنور السادات". sadat.bibalex.org. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
- ^ Drs. Ch. Jansen: Encyclopedia of the Middle East, Text and Explanation: Actuale Parool Pockets 6, Parool A'dam 1969, p. 93
- ^ A. Goldschmidt Jr., R. Johnston: Historical Dictionary of Egypt, Scarecrow Press Lanham, Maryland / Oxford 20033, p. 293
- ^ Goldschmidt, Johnston 2003:293