Abstract:
This article aims to study the foundations of change in Egypt’s foreign policy. From the Second World War onwards, the Egypt’s foreign policy has undergone at least four eras. Each era has its own distinctive context, principles and objectives that can be studied separately. Predominance of distinct identity elements in different eras has led to perceptible differences in the Egypt’s foreign policy. Jamal Abdel Nasser’s Pan-Arabism, Sadat’s patriotism, Mubarak’s dual identity and subsequently the Islamic identity of Morsi’s administration has given different identities frameworks and worldviews to the Egypt’s foreign policy decision makers. This argument is significant in terms of its explanatory value as well as in providing a framework for future examination of Egyptian foreign policy and other Arab countries. The present article, is an attempt to address the following primary question: what are the reasons for significant differences between the four main periods of Egypt’s foreign policy in objectives, tools and approaches to the outer world? In response to this question, the article argues that identity developments account for transformation of foreign policy and each identity development at the level of ruling elites give rise to change in Egypt’s foreign policy.
Machine summary:
Jamal Abdel Nasser’s Pan-Arabism, Sadat’s patriotism, Mubarak’s dual identity and subsequently the Islamic identity of Morsi’s administration has given different identities frameworks and worldviews to the Egypt’s foreign policy decision makers.
Although until 1973 war and as a result of Egypt’s need to Arab’s support against Israel, Pan-Arabism remained the dominant and constituting feature of Egypt’s foreign policy identity.
In Sadat’s era, Egypt put aside the Pan-Arab identity and began to change its foreign policy based on a new identity framework.
In changing the identity priorities and as the result foreign policy, influenced by the Pan-Arab outputs of Nasser’s era, Sadat made use of monopolized state media tools.
Based on this the state media were pointing to issues like the immense costs of war with Israel for Egypt, the insignificant gains of coalition with the Arabs, adoption of Pan-Arab policies and most particularly the alternative perception which emphasized on putting Egypt’s interests first".
The apparent continuation of some aspects of Mubarak’s foreign policy by Morsi, despite change in the identity at the government level, should be analyzed against the backdrop of Egypt’s need to resources and maintain relations with some regional countries, "The reality is that economic pressures and increase in the significance of some other powers pushed Egypt back in some foreign policy areas" (Salem, 2013: 50).
With change in the identity principals of foreign policy during Sadat, this country took different approaches toward the Middle East and Iran.