Movie Screening – Nasser’s Republic: The Making of Modern Egypt
Synopsis
In 1952, as an unknown young Egyptian colonel, Gamal Abdel Nasser led a coup that became a revolution. Over the next 18 years he challenged Western hegemony abroad, confronted Islamism at home, and faced deep divisions among the Arabs, emerging as a titanic figure, champion of Arab progress and African liberation.
But what he could not offer was democracy; instead, he established the region’s first and much emulated military authoritarian regime. A man of enormous charisma and ambition, Nasser became caught in the coils of his own power, dying at 52 with many dreams unrealized.
This movie screening will be followed by a Q&A session.
Discussants
Siraj Ali (The Eqbal Ahmad Project)
Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy
About Siraj Ali
Siraj is the Project Curator and Admin for The Eqbal Ahmad Project (for nearly 10 years), formerly known as the fan-page, an informal site devoted to the memory of the public intellectual Eqbal Ahmad. He lives in London and works as a Railway Engineering Consultant.