Gamal Abdel Nasser and his contributions to Egypt and the world
Author: Alexa Silva Varela
San Jose, Costa Rica
Gamal Abdel Nasser was the president of Egypt from 1954 until his death in 1970. This leader had a vision that made Egypt succeed many areas. Nasser was born in Alexandria and at young age moved to Cairo. Joined the army at the age of 15 and during his youth, Nasser was politically engaged against foreign influences on Egyptian politics.
When Nasser became president, his vision was the real social and political transformation, bringing revolutionary reforms to the feudal agrarian system and implementing hugely popular socialist policies. Freed from the limitations of a feudal society, Egypt underwent a period of rapid growth and development from which millions of Egyptian peasants benefited. This believer of anti-imperialism, and anti-neo-colonialism, nationalized the Suez Canal, a stand for which he received much support throughout the Middle East (The Presidency Republic of South Africa, 2022).
After attending the 1955 Bandung Conference, Nasser approached the neutralist positions of Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Six years later, he founded with them the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), establishing strong ties between countries of the third world (School History, 2022). The impact of Gamal Abdel Nasser in the developing countries remains today, but without doubts, the impact on the solidarity among all Arab states is one of the most important legacies after Egypt played a leading role in the Arab League, since the conflict in Israel helped him achieve a greater economic and political unity in other Arab countries.
The president Gamal Abdel Nasser was a president and a leader. Today, his exceptional contribution is embodied in the many actions against colonialism and for a better and peaceful Africa and the world.
References:
The Presidency Republic of South Africa. (2022). Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918 - 1970). The Presidency Republic of South Africa. https://www.thepresidency.gov.za/national-orders/recipient/gamal-abdel-nasser-1918-1970
School History. (2022). Gamal Abdel Nasser Facts & Worksheets. School History UK. https://schoolhistory.co.uk/modern/gamal-abdel-nasser/
