Positive Neutrality: Nasser’s Most Consequential Policy

Gamal Nasser was the President of Egypt from 1954 until his death in 1970 at age 52. He remains a hero in Egypt for gaining full independence after centuries of colonial rule, implementing sweeping social programs, modernizing its economy, and transforming Egypt into a regional political and military power. Extensive research involving a number of peer-reviewed articles and primary sources shows that Nasser required a vast amount of financial and military foreign aid to accomplish his goals. During the height of the Cold War, Egypt received substantial aid from numerous sources including the USSR and the United States. An examination of the main events before and during Nasser’s reign reveals that he never wavered from his strict policy of positive neutrality, which involved cooperating, but never participating in formal allegiances with any foreign powers. This essay demonstrates that Nasser’s positive neutrality policy was the central reason for his success.