Egypt After Arab Nationalism: The Collapse Of A Regional Order And The Reconfiguration Of Power In The Horn Of Africa
This article examines the decline of Arab nationalism as a primary driver of Egyptian regional influence and its impact on the Horn of Africa. It argues that Egypt's current geopolitical challenges, including tensions over the Nile, stem from the loss of the ideological framework that once unified the region under Cairo's leadership.
Why it matters
Understanding this shift is crucial for analyzing the changing power dynamics in the Red Sea basin and the increasing autonomy of nations like Ethiopia.
For much of the 20th century, Egypt’s regional influence rested not only on military strength or demographic weight, but also on the ideological architecture of Arab nationalism. Under Gamal Abdel Nasser, Cairo transformed pan-Arabism into a geopolitical instrument capable of mobilizing populations, shaping regional alignments, and legitimizing Egyptian leadership across the Middle East and North Africa. Arab nationalism provided Egypt with strategic depth extending beyond its borders, including influence in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea basin.
The article provides a historical and geopolitical analysis without taking a partisan stance on current Egyptian policy.
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