The Egyptian revolution of 1919 : legacies and consequences of the fight for independence

"The 1919 Egyptian revolution was the founding event for modern Egypt's nation state. It is viewed as that unique moment in the country's history when Muslim, Christian and Jewish Egyptians, throughout the country and from all strata of society, united behind the demand for independence from British rule. As the key executive, legislative and judicial institutions of contemporary Egypt emerged in the wake of the Revolution, 1919 is considered the birth year of modern Egypt and imprinted in the nation's collective memory. So far there has been no text that looks at the causes, consequences and legacies of the 1919 Egyptian Revolution. This book addresses that gap, with Egyptian and non-Egyptian scholars discussing a range of topics that link back to that crucial event in Egyptian history. Across nine chapters, the book analyzes the causes and course of the 1919 revolution; its impacts on subsequent political beliefs, practices and institutions; and its continuing legacy as a means of regime legitimation. The chapters reveal that the 1919 Egyptian Revolution divided the British while uniting Egyptians. However, the "revolutionary moment" was superseded by efforts to restore Britain's influence in league with a reassertion of monarchial authority. Those efforts enjoyed tactical, but not long-term strategic success, in part because the 1919 revolution had unleashed nationalist forces that could never again be completely contained. The book covers key issues surrounding the 1919 Egyptian Revolution such as the role played by Lord Allenby; internal schisms within the British government struggling to cope with the revolution; Muslim--Christian relations; and divisions among the Egyptians."-- Provided by publisher The 1919 Egyptian revolution was the founding event for modern Egypt's nation state. So far there has been no text that looks at the causes, consequences and legacies of the 1919 Egyptian Revolution. This book addresses that gap, with Egyptian and non-Egyptian scholars discussing a range of topics that link back to that crucial event in Egyptian history. Across nine chapters, the book analyzes the causes and course of the 1919 revolution; its impacts on subsequent political beliefs, practices and institutions; and its continuing legacy as a means of regime legitimation. The chapters reveal that the 1919 Egyptian Revolution divided the British while uniting Egyptians. However, the “revolutionary moment” was superseded by efforts to restore Britain's influence in league with a reassertion of monarchical authority. Those efforts enjoyed tactical, but not long-term strategic success, in part because the 1919 revolution had unleashed nationalist forces that could never again be completely contained. The book covers key issues surrounding the 1919 Egyptian Revolution such as the role played by Lord Allenby; internal schisms within the British government struggling to cope with the revolution; Muslim-Christian relations; and divisions among the Egyptians. Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Contents Figures Acknowledgments Revolution and Revolutions: 1919 to 2011 and beyond in Egypt Chapter 1: Medical Doctors, Maternal Health, and the Revolution of 1919 Chapter 2: Arabi and His Comrades: Workers on the Canal and the 1919 Revolution Chapter 3: Muslim and Christian Egyptian Identities and the Narrative of the 1919 Revolution Chapter 4: From Nationalism to Islamism: Revolution, the Wafd, and the Rise of the Muslim Brotherhood Chapter 5: British Responses to the 1919 Revolution Chapter 6: Lord Allenby and the 1919 Revolution: An Ambivalent Colonizer Chapter 7: Crossing the Global Color Line: 1919 and Colonial Racism Chapter 8: Politics From Afar: Egyptians in Exile during Two Revolutions (1919 and 2011) Chapter 9: The Great Theft of History: The Egyptian Army, the First World War, and the 1919 Revolution Conclusion Contributors Index