The Origins of the Eisenhower Doctrine: The US, Britain and Nasser's Egypt, 1953-57

During the 1950s, Gamal Abdul Nasser dominated the political life of the Middle East. The Egyptian regime gave content to Arab desires for greater unity and reduction of external influences. The ideals of autonomy and progressive reform resonated throughout the region that had only recently achieved its formal independence. This was the age of Nasserism as Egypt embodied the Arab nationalists' hopes and calls for the construction of a new society. No one understood the power and appeal of E...