Factors for the success of the Egyptian revolution (1952 – 70)
1. The Egyptian revolution of 1952 was to a big extent successful in reforming Egypt was due to the following reasons.
2. The revolution was preceded by careful planning. The socialist-oriented free army officers begot the idea of seriously reforming Egypt, i.e. deposing the Egyptian monarchy as far back as in the 1940s.
3. The correct choice to use a military coup to remove King Farouk was a favourable step towards the success
4. On 22-23 July when the coup was staged, Egypt was experiencing political violence due to Farouk's forced expulsion of the British from Egypt. The monarchical government was undermined by Egyptian population;
5. The army officers had a deep and a correct perception of the Egyptian history.
6. The revolution had able leadership. Nasser, Neguib and Sadat were great organisers.
7. Another effective personality in the success of the revolution was Anwar Sadat who was born in 1918 in a village in the Nile Delta.
8. The revolutionary leaders were united against the old order in Egypt. Farouk's ineffectiveness, rampant corruption and bribery, the humiliating defeat in the Palestine war, the huge number of British troops based in the Suez Canal zone served to strengthen the fabric of comradeship among the coup leaders.
9. In the immediate aftermath of the coup, the free army officers did not want to antagonise and scare off the old time leaders.
10. The palace coup of 1954 which deposed Neguib was another factor which led to the success of the revolution.
11. The promulgation of the revolutionary constitution of 1956 also helped to solidify the revolution in Egypt. It was written by Gamal Nasser and presented to the public for ratification; which was duly accepted.
12. Furthermore, the constitution led to the creation of a truly National Assembly to which all sectors of the Egyptian community i.e. workers, peasants, women and so-forth were allowed representation.
13. The ability of the RCC to create new political parties in post-Farouk era went along war to enhance the political strength and political durability of the revolution.
14. At the same time, radical national reformist doctrines or set of ideas were being taught in Al-Azhar University, which itself had been radically changed.
15. The RCC dictatorship was not totally bad; it was healthy in another aspect. The coup leaders established an autocratic government in Egypt with full powers concentrated in their own hands.
16. The Suez Canal war of October - November of 1956, which originated from European imperialism and from the 'cold war' politics, was another mixed blessing to RCC.
17. The American and the Russian intervention (i.e. 'cold war") in the war prevented the Anglo-French alliance from deposing Nasser from power.
18. In addition to the above factors, the ground work for the success of the Egyptian revolution was actually laid down during Farouk's rule.
19. The country had also got a collection of first brain intellectuals in the categories of natural and social scientists, engineers, economists, lawyers, teachers and historians.
20. Nasser and other members of the RCC exploited the opportunities set out by the previous government to create their own programme. Egypt was already modernized enough to absorb huge revolutionary programmes of the RCC.
21. The second Arab - Israel war of 1967, though counted as a military fiasco for Egypt, succeeded to strengthen the revolutionary government in that country.
22. The RCC involvement in the politics of the third world, especially in defending the idea of non-alignment or 'positive neutralism' was an asset to the revolution.
23. Furthermore, after successfully overthrowing King Farouk in July 19 52, Nasser created harmonious working relations with other liberation movements in the Arab as well as black Africa.
24. Last but not least, the Egyptian revolution of 1952 was capable of succeeding because it was started from top to bottom.
National Movements and New States in Africa