Egypt's foreign policy in the decade after Camp David : an interpretation
Date
1991
Authors
King, Ralph
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This thesis is an interpretation of Egypt’s foreign policy in the decade, loosely-defined,
after the signing of the Camp David accords in September 1978. It
examines the way in which Husni Mubarak managed the diplomatic legacy
bequeathed to him by Anwar Sadat.
The thesis pursues two, interrelated themes. First, it examines the content
of Egypt's most important diplomatic relationships during the 1980s, and the
linkages between them. Second, it considers Egypt's role in Arab politics and the
nexus between that role and Egypt's position in the wider international system.
Egypt's foreign policy during the 1980s was dominated by the United States,
the Arab world, and Israel, with the Palestinian question as a common
denominator. Equally important, even if less attention-getting, was the
management of the vital Egyptian-Sudanese relationship. The purpose of
Mubarak's diplomacy was, whilst adhering to the peace treaty with Israel, to
inject a degree of flexibility into Egyptian diplomacy. This could be achieved by
repairing those relationships which Sadat had damaged, and reducing the
salience of those which he had built up excessively; thus, for example, the
restoration of relations with the Soviet Union served symbolically to offset
Egypt’s unavoidable dependence on the United States.
The overall contention of the thesis is this: although Egypt's perceived
central role in inter-Arab politics is its principal source of international prestige,
that role is itself co-determined by the interests of outside powers.
Consequently, Egyptian policymakers must strive to preserve a balance between
the dictates of what may be called the 'Arab regional' and the 'Middle Eastern'
systems.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Collections
Source
Type
Thesis (PhD)
Book Title
Entity type
Access Statement
License Rights
Restricted until
Downloads
File
Description