Pan-Arabism
From Wikinfo
- For criticism see Criticism of Pan-Arabism
Pan-Arabism is a movement for unification among the peoples and countries of the Arab World, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea. It is closely connected to Arab nationalism which asserts that the Arabs constitute a single nation. The idea was at its height during the 1960s. Pan-Arabism has tended to be secular and often socialist, and has strongly opposed colonialism and Western political involvement in the Arab world. Pan-Arabism is a form of cultural nationalism.
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Origins and Leaders
Pan-Arabism was first pressed by Sharif Hussein ibn Ali, the Sharif of Mecca, who sought independence from the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of a unified state of Arabia. In 1915-16, the Hussein-McMahon Correspondence resulted in an agreement between the United Kingdom and the Sharif that if the Arabs successfully revolted against the Ottomans, the United Kingdom would support claims for Arab independence. In 1916, however, the Sykes-Picot Agreement between the United Kingdom and France determined that parts of the Arab Mashreq would be divided between those powers rather than forming part of an independent Arab state. When the Ottoman Empire surrendered in 1918, the United Kingdom refused to keep to the letter of its arrangements with Hussein and the two nations assumed guardianship of several newly-created states. Ultimately, Hussein became king only of Hijaz (later incorporated into Saudi Arabia) in the then less strategically valuable south.
Additionally, the Balfour Declaration of 1917 as reason to administer Palestine and the subsequent creation of the British Mandate upset pan-Arabists designs for a geographically contiguous pan-Arab state from the Arab Maghreb and Egypt to the Mashreq.
A more formalized pan-Arab ideology than that of Hussein was first espoused in the 1930s, notably by Syrian thinkers such as Constantin Zureiq, Zaki al-Arsuzi and Michel Aflaq. Aflaq and al-Arsuzi were key figures in the establishment of the Arab Ba’ath (Renaissance) Party, and the former was for long its chief ideologist, combining elements of Marxist thought with a nationalism to a considerable extent reminiscent of nineteenth century European romantic nationalism.
Pan-Arabism and Arabization
A movement for unification among the peoples and countries of the Arab World, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea. It is closely connected to Arab nationalism which asserts that the Arabs constitute a single nation.
As an ultra nationalist ideology it has been embedded with bigotry in its roots and in its motivated action.
Pan-Arabism & Islam
At times Pan-Arabism has tended to be secular and socialist, but often it embeds within it Islamic tradition and culture or Islamism. and has stneorongly opposed colonialism and Western political involvement in the Arab world. Also historic Arabizing of the middle east [1] [2] and in Africa that process is still going on today [3]. Pan-Arabism is a form of nationalism and cultural nationalism.
Arabism and Islamism in Sayyid Qutb's Thought on Nationalism, The phenomenon of Islamic resurgence in the Arab world has been considered as a response to the "forces of secularization" [4].
There's a strong argument that Arabism was never detached from Islamism, To this day, Islam has retained its imperial ambitions. The dream of regional and world domination has remained very much alive, despite the destruction long ago of the last great Muslim empire, which has left the Islamic caliphate vacant. The 20th century doctrine of pan-Arabism (exemplified by Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser), though secular in appearance, has been effectively Islamic in its ethos, worldview, and imperialist vision. Karsh quotes Nuri Said, longtime prime minister of Iraq and a prominent early champion of pan-Arabism: "Although Arabs are naturally attached to their native land, their nationalism is not confined by boundaries. It is an aspiration to restore the great tolerant civilization of the early caliphate." [5].
At Baathism there was a greater link between Islamism & Arabism, Fascist movement, Ba'athism. Ba'athism's founding thinkers, the Syrians Sati al-Husri and Michel Aflaq, composed a Koranic super narrative of Arabism, soil and Islam. They wrote of an Islam as the great cultural and intellectual achievement of the Arab people, and it in turn formed a symbiotic relationship with Arabism, such that they flowed from one another, locked in an eternal embrace. [6].
Charles Hill : The Arab world today consists of 21 countries, all members of the League of Arab States. Few seem comfortable with their own statehood except as a means of casting a veil of international legitimacy over their own version of power politics. Some, such as Morocco, are hereditary paternalistic monarchies whose royal heads are uneasy indeed. Some are secular regimes on the national socialist model, dominated by the Ba’th Party. Still others, such as Egypt and Syria, borrowed Western constitutional forms but have never achieved legitimacy because they have not been accompanied by democratic freedoms. A look at the region as a whole reveals inauthentic "states" attempting to function within the concept of pan-Arabism (one Arab nation) within the wider body of states—members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, where, if anywhere, the unfilled office of the caliphate resides—with a commitment to pan-Islam. All these concepts hamper the full participation of the region in the contemporary international system of states. The absence of credible political systems and the inability to participate in a world of state powers incite protests under the banner of Islam. [7]
In a June , 2008 Interview with President of Syria In our society, we have the Islamic pillar and the pan-Arabism pillar [8].
In their book: "Case Studies on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: A World Survey" 1975, pg 88, Willem Adriaan Veenhoven, Winifred Crum Ewing write about Discrimination Case studies: After the 1860 Syrian massacres, the Christians had tried to promote an Arab nationalism, irritated the Muslims, Thanks to the theologians of Al Azhar, the two movements, antagonistic at first, fused into Islamic pan-arabism. Today it is clear that Islam and Arabism, are inseparable terms and that in fact, pan-arabism is synonymous with the cultural social and political rebirth of Islam... a true Arab must be Muslim. As long as modern Egypt will proclaim itself to be "essentially an Arab and Muslim land" uncertainty will continue to weigh on the Copts, the only remaining native religious minority after the forced departure of eighty thousand Jews. When Nasser came to power, Egypt resolutely turned its face towards Arabism ...became its staunchest champion and Cairo proclaimed Islamic unity pursued an active policy of pan-arabism which identified Islam with Arabism. The Precarious situation of the minorities became even ore acute. Was it possible to be a Christian and an Arab? [9].
Christians of Egypt's Rafik Farag, M.D analysys: In modern times, President Nasser (1954-1970) stimulated the growth of "pan-Arabism," and with it the awareness of Islam as a possible way of reuniting what history had put asunder. He saw the failure of pan-Arabism resulting not from Islamic principles as the marriage between politics and religion but from foreign intervention. The problem which the Nasserites experienced with their ideology simply restates the problem with its marginality. The Saudis who saw pan-Arabism as a great movement toward the restoration of one Islamic nation (Caliphate) and the Egyptian, whom he wished to accept this idea, were too far apart. Saddam Hussein saw pan-Arabism as a way to build an Arab empire and Muammar Kadahfy of Libya used it to dominate the Middle East. [10].
Africans write about headship of AU, Libya's strongman Muammar Gadhafi's championing pan-Arabism and pan-Islamism [11] "aggressive spread of Islam through Arabism", that invitation to his fellow Arabs is nothing but a declaration of race war on Africa. It is an invitation to more Arabs to invade and colonise Africa. Indeed, it is a call for the final phase of the 15 centuries old Arab lebensraum war on Afrikans - a war to Islamise and conquer all of Africa, from Cairo to the Cape and from Senegal to Somalia, and to then enslave or Arabise all the conquered Afrikans. In order to make that clear, it is necessary to first put his invitation in the context of the traditions of Arab melanophobia and negrophobia, and of Arab expansionist ambitions and conquests that go back to the time of their Arab prophet, Muhammed." With his present pre-occupation, this fear may have been assuaged [12].
Dr. Opoku Agyeman: 'Islam is a core ingredient of Pan-Arabism', the utility of Islam, from the first, was seen to lie in its potential as a weapon for indoctrination, domination and, thereby, the augmentation of Arab power around the globe. [13].
Failed and successful attempts at Arab union
There have been several attempts to bring about a Pan-Arab state by many well known Arab leaders that ultimately resulted in failure.
The United Arab Republic in 1958 was the first attempt. Formed under Nasser, it was a union between Egypt and Syria. It lasted only until 1961 when an anti-Nasserist coup in Syria led to Syria's withdrawal from the union.
Two later attempts were conducted by Libya's Muammar al-Gaddafi; these were the Federation of Arab Republics and the Arab Islamic Republic. Both failed before beginning.
Unity between Southern and Northern Yemen, though, was successful. Also, the unity of seven Arab emirates that form the UAE today stand as examples of the possibility of success of Arab unification.
The current Syrian government is, and the former government of Iraq was, led by the Ba’ath Party, which espouses pan-Arabism.
Decline
The high point of the pan-Arab movement was in the 1960s, when the movement was spearheaded by Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser, but pan-Arabism was strongly hurt by the Arab defeat by Israel in the Six Day War and the inability of pan-Arabist governments to generate economic growth. By the late 1980s, pan-Arabism began to be eclipsed by Islamist ideologies. It continues however, to exert a strong influence in Arab print media and intellectual circles, particularly in the Levant.
See also
- Arab Revolt
- Nasserism
- Arab nationalism
- Arab socialism
- United Arab Republic
- Arab Federation
- Federation of Arab Republics
- Arab Islamic Republic
- Arab Maghreb Union
- Pan-Arab colors
- Pan Arab Games
References
- ^ http://www.elwatan.com/Congres-mondial-amazigh,74600 El Watan, July 18, 2007]
- ^ Raymond A. Hinnebusch, Anoushiravan Ehteshami, The Foreign Policies of Middle East States. Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2002. pg 169
External links
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