Arab Nationalist Movement
By: Ehab Said
Resurgence of nationalism
- After World War II, nationalism developed in Arab states that gained independence
- Gamal Abdel Nasser, the second Egyptian president, lead the movement for Arab nationalism
- At this point in time, this nationalism was driven by opposition to Israel
- This Arab unity did not last, however, and was prone to many divisions in the Arab world
- The Cold War split some states, as some allied with the United States while others allied with the Soviet Union
- Some nations, such as Egypt, switched sides between the two, as Egypt left the Soviets for the U.S.
- Countries in the unity differed in their governments, and form of Islam practiced
- Divisions between Shi'a and Sunni nations are still common in the world today
Iranian Revolution
- Strong devotion to faith proved to be a valid means of deterring foreign influence, as demonstrated by Iran
- The U.S. initially supported Iran's leader and helped the country maintain military and economic prowess, as well as strict anticommunism
- Shi'ite Muslims were not very happy with Shah Reza Pahlavi and publicly deposed him, rejecting his policies and his regime
- This led him to fled the country, causing the Islamist movement to take power, naming Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini their new leader
- The new regime established in Iran was anti-U.S., and many militants were responsible for taking U.S. citizens hostage
- Iran fighting a developed nation like the U.S. inspired many anti-U.S. terror groups to form
Iran-Iraq War
- The Shi'ite leadership of Iran and the unstable state after the revolution prompted Iraq to invade Iran
- The efforts of Saddam Hussein helped Iraq prosper, gaining a strong economy and a formidable military
- Upon launching his attack, Hussein believed that he could quickly take victory and become the leader of a new Arab unity
- Iran is not ethnically Muslim, so their defeat would prompt Arab nationalism once more
- While Iraq was successful at first, a counterattack by Iran turned the tables and kept the war going for eight years
- One million soldiers died during the war
- Devastation from the war took a huge toll on Iran, despite signs of recovery and relaxation of Islamist regulation
- Hussein soon attempted to invade Kuwait, which started the Gulf War
- He, again, failed at this, dividing much of the Middle East and creating hardship for the Iraqi people