Arab Nationalism

Pan-Arabism, also known as Arabism or Arab nationalism, is a belief in the unity of Arab countries, viewing the people from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean as one nation connected by shared ethnicity, language, culture, history, identity, geography, and politics. The main idea is that Arabs share a common bond that goes beyond individual national borders. Arab nationalism seeks to diminish Western influence in the Arab world, which is perceived as a threat to Arab strength. Additionally, it aims to eliminate Arab governments seen as overly dependent on Western power. The roots of this movement gained strength with the decline of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century, but its influence waned after the Arab armies faced defeat in the Six-Day War.

Ideology

Within the Arab nationalist movement are three main ideas: that of the Arab nation; Arab nationalism; and pan-Arab unity.

Arab Nation’s: In the late 1930s, the Arab revolt in Palestine gave rise to the Arab nationalist Ba’ath Party. This political movement emphasizes the notion that the Arab nation comprises people who speak Arabic, reside in the Arab world, and share a sense of belonging.

Arab Nationalism: Arab nationalism is like a collective identity card for the Arab nation. It’s a mix of all the unique qualities and characteristics that make the Arab people who they are, setting them apart in a special way.

Pan-Arab Unity: Imagine a modern idea where separate Arab countries come together, not just as neighbors, but as one big family. This dream of unity, known as Pan-Arab unity, envisions these countries uniting to form a single state with a shared political system. It’s like the idea of creating a home where everyone in the Arab family can thrive together.

Arab Nationalism: Tracing the timeline

Origins of Arab Nationalism: In the 1860s, literature from the Mashriq, under Ottoman control, expressed intense emotions, condemning Ottoman Turks for betraying Islam to the Christian West. Blame fell on the Ottoman and Egyptian governments for adopting Western practices, viewed as unnatural. Arab patriots sought a revival of true Islam to establish constitutional representative government and freedom.

Rise of Modern Arab Nationalism: In 1911, Muslim intellectuals formed al-Fatat in Paris, aiming to elevate the Arab nation to modern standards. Initially, they sought autonomy within the Ottoman state rather than independence. Damascus became the hub of the Arab nationalist movement, with Faysal as the first Arab sovereign after centuries of Turkish rule.

Growth of the Movement: Arab revolts against European powers followed British and French mandates. The 1920 Iraqi revolt, sparked by resentment of British rule, fueled Arab nationalist sentiments. The Arab Union Club, established in Egypt in 1942, aimed to strengthen ties between Egypt and the Arab world, expanding to other cities. It pledged to protect the interests of sister Arab nations and explore the question of Arab unity.

Peak under Egyptian Leadership: Post-World War II, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt played a significant role. Nationalizing the Suez Canal, he challenged Western dominance and aligned with the Soviet bloc. Nasser’s actions positioned Egypt as a Cold War zone, receiving aid without dependency on treaties or peace accords.

Decline: Following the 1967 Six-Day War defeat by Israel, Arab nationalism faced an irreversible decline. Factional splits and ideological infighting weakened the movement from the mid-1960s. The once pro-Nasser Arab Nationalist Movement shifted to Marxism–Leninism and disintegrated.

Reasons for Decline of Arab Nationalism

Despite adhering to common ideology, there existed differences among Arab states, which hindered pan-Arabic Nationalism.
This was evident in the case of Jordan and Saudi Arabia, which were rules by conservative Royal families, who had pro-western stance; and these states were criticised by pro-arab nationalists states like Egypt and Syria.
Personal Interests of ruling families hindered pan-Arab Unity, as they would lose their ruling power in case of disappearance of national boundaries.
Also, after WW2 western powers also worked on disuniting the Arabs, by playing one state against another for fulfilment of their own interests.
Suspicion of Arab unity by minority groups such as Kurds in Iraq who were non-Arab, or Shia Arabs in Iraq who feared Arab nationalism was actually “a Sunni project” to establish “Sunni hegemony”.
The Islamic revival, which grew as Arab nationalism declined, and whose Islamist adherents were very hostile towards nationalism in general, believing it had no place in Islam.
Lack of interest by the movement in pluralism, separation of powers, freedom of political expression and other democratic concepts which might have “resuscitated” the ideology in its moment of weakness.