The fate of the United Arab Republic project: long-awaited emergence and natural destruction of the pan-arab state

Abstract

The unification betweenEgypt andSyria (1958–1961) not only played an important role in the history of these countries, but also had a significant impact on the development of theArab world in the second half of the twentieth century.Despite its historical relevance, there are almost no detailed studies inRussian historiography that are devoted to the fate of theUnitedArabRepublic (UAR) project.The purpose of this article is to identify the prerequisites for the formation and collapse of theUAR.The main objectives of the study are to reveal the major trends that influenced the course of the historical process inSyria during the period of unification, and to identify the key reasons for the failure of theUARproject.Detailed analysis ofEnglish,Russian andArabic sources allows to draw the following conclusions.The core reasons for the creation of theUARwereNasser’s will to consolidate his leadership position in theArab world and the attempt of theBa’athParty and a number of higherSyrian officers to prevent the brewing civil conflict inSyria and avoid the establishment of communist power there.While implementing political centralization in theUARNasser took several steps to limit the influence of the army, political parties, commercial elite, tribal leaders and trade unions.As a result, former members of theBa’athParty who initiated the unification turned their backs on theEgyptian leader.Finally,Nasser had neither social institutions nor political figures inSyria to rely upon, resulting in the military coup and the collapse of theUAR.