What is Pan-Arabism?
Pan-Arabism is a form of nationalism for the Arab world. It argues that people who share the Arabic tongue, history and culture, from Morocco to the Gulf, are one nation, and that the borders drawn in the era of Ottoman collapse and European rule are artificial. Supporters have wanted anything from closer ties between Arab governments to a single Arab state. The movement was strongest in the two decades after 1950, when it fused with anti-colonial struggle, Arab socialism and the fame of Egypt's president Gamal Abdel Nasser. Ba'athism, a related party movement, has its own profile.
Core beliefs
- Arabs share one language, one history and one future.
- The borders left by colonial powers divide a single nation.
- Arab lands must be free of outside domination.
- The Arab nation is defined by language and culture, so Christians and Muslims, and different sects, belong equally.
- Oil and other resources should benefit all Arabs.
- Arab governments should speak with one voice, above all on Palestine.
History
The roots lie in the Nahda, the Arabic literary revival of the 1800s, to which both Christian and Muslim writers contributed. In 1916 Sharif Hussein of Mecca launched the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans, with British backing, hoping for a united Arab kingdom. After the war, Britain and France split the Arab east into mandates instead. Between the wars, educator Sati al-Husri taught that language and shared history made the nation. Arab states created the Arab League in 1945. Nasser took power in Egypt after the 1952 revolution and became the face of Arab unity once the Suez crisis of 1956 was over. In 1958 Egypt and Syria merged to form the United Arab Republic, but Syria left in 1961. Defeat by Israel in the 1967 war hit the movement's standing hard.
Variants
Nasserism mixed Arab unity with land reform, state takeovers of industry and non-alignment. Ba'athism, founded in Syria in the 1940s by Michel Aflaq and others, took as its slogan unity, freedom and socialism. The Arab Nationalist Movement, led by George Habash, shifted toward Marxism in the 1960s. Older liberal and Hashemite versions looked to unity under constitutional monarchies. Colonel Qaddafi in Libya later blended Arab unity with his own theories.
Criticisms
Critics say pan-Arabism in power left the region with army-backed, one-party governments that silenced opponents while talking of unity. Kurds, Amazigh (Berbers) and other non-Arab peoples say its idea of the nation left them out. Islamists argue that it put ethnic identity above the faith community. Others say it ignored real differences between Arab countries. Defenders say it helped end colonial rule, boosted national pride and widened schooling and public services in several states.
In practice
Every union attempt failed, among them the United Arab Republic and later short-lived federations. Still, the ideas left a lasting mark on the Arab League, on oil-policy cooperation and on the broad popular support for the Palestinians. From the 1970s, loyalty to individual states and political Islam took over from pan-Arabism as the leading forces, though its symbols still carry weight. On the 12 axes it scores strongly toward National identity on Culture and toward Central on Structure.