What Was The Arab Cold War? (1952-1979) | Middle East History

The second half of the 20th century was dominated by the rivalry between Communist USSR and Capitalist/Democratic USA, a contest known as the Cold War. The impact of this conflict was significant throughout the Arab World in this period. Lines of division were marked between traditionalist monarchies that maintained good relations with the West and progressive Republics that sought to use Arab Nationalism and Soviet aid to implement their vision for the region.
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[@HikmaHistory]

Project MAD: kzbin.info/aero/PLjnwpaclU4wXW18I7joPDPXmfL1zepBNv

[@nafismubashir2479]

Will you have an Afghanistan statement video coming out?

[@HikmaHistory]

@@nafismubashir2479 Nope

[@nafismubashir2479]

@@HikmaHistory How come you are from Afghanistan is it the controversy or is it that you do not want to concern yourself with it because it will give you trauma that is unbearable upon you?

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

Silly Hikma, the middle east is hot, not cold

[@kinanradaideh5479]

This comment beats everything else

[@ainas8924]

Lol

[@user-nv7tw5kb9q]

But the cold war is in middle east and Europe in the 50s and the 80s

[@abi_abdurrahman]

Soo...the name should be "The Arab Hot War"?

[@petermorris9393]

You obviously haven’t experienced an ME winter.

[@benjaminprietop]

didn't know about this, very interesting. The fact that a Latin American like me can learn about Middle Eastern history by just watching a video is one of the reasons I love the internet :D

[@FOLIPE]

Yeah and it's crazy how many parallels there are between the two. I think Latin America is in a slightly better situation, overall, but the parallels are starting particularly during the cold war.

[@hishamalaker491]

There are Millions of Arabs in Latin America actually and also we arabs we like you latinos we perfer you a million time over than the Americans i mean we have the same struggles since our countries were bombed, invaded and even Couped by the US.

[@ShehuStebe]

Genuinely, one of the most nuanced and impartial middle east history channels I've ever seen. Most of them (either accidentally or not) contain loads of Orientalist buzzwords and literal lies and misinformation. Once again, excellent video. Keep up the great work!

[@noorsaadeh]

Agreed!

[@noorsaadeh]

Fyi in this case Noor is female! Jzk! Love your videos.

[@juniorjames7076]

I have had several Moroccan friends tell me, regardless of how they feel about the Moroccan royal family, that Morocco would violently split into 6 or more pieces if the King abdicated or the monarchy was overthrown, and nobody wants that no matter how annoying the royal family is.

[@Dakerino-fz3rk]

as a Moroccan that really dislikes the idea of monarchy. it pains me to agree

[@HikmaHistory]

That’s fascinating

[@SunsetNova]

The Moroccan Monarchy is beloved by majority Moroccans.

[@SunsetNova]

@@Dakerino-fz3rk Thankfully you're in the minority

[@henrypicklevitz8870]

Why would the split be so catastrophic as you say? Pls explain, honest question

[@chinmaykale4592]

Wow awesome video ! I like how your content gets straight to the point. I learnt a lot from this namely the conflict in Yemen referred as ‘Egypt’s Vietnam’.

[@HikmaHistory]

Heyyy! Thank you Chinmay, appreciate the kind words

[@tomsuiteriii9742]

Thank you for this video, as well as the "Modern Middle East" one. I'm currently in the throes of my senior thesis in history right now, and my topic is the Arab Cold War and the KGB's efforts to spread communism in the Middle East. Your content has certainly helped me understand my project better, especially with the division between monarchies & republics, Sadat's role in cutting ties with the USSR, and the war in Yemen. I will definitely cite your content as a source. I appreciate your hard work! 🙏🏻

[@franciscoalvarez1189]

Great vídeo, thanks!! Greetings from Argentina

[@jakecarlo9950]

Simply outstanding. The approach to the content is superior to all but a tiny minority of U.S. productions, the writing is precise, and the visuals are well-selected and deployed. With Frontline money for production, this would kick a lot of ass in the public broadcast space, and combined with the series on Afghanistan specifically, would easily be an hour of must-see TV for every American at this moment. Back in the day I worked for one of the top PBS production houses, so I'm not just blowing smoke up your ass. Good work, we need you, keep going.

[@HikmaHistory]

Dang Jake, I appreciate the kind words!

[@Malikin]

who, with 20k subs, has such a dope intro!

[@HikmaHistory]

Oh thanks Arthur!

[@McVaySwifty]

Nicely explained, thanks!

[@HikmaHistory]

The man man!

[@SubboorAhmadAbbasi]

Nice channel you got here, this style has good potential InshaaAllah

[@SubboorAhmadAbbasi]

Can you get your email address please?

[@24xv555]

Niceeeee. Quality content as always

[@HikmaHistory]

Thanks!

[@shahadatsaimum4687]

Hey.. From "HistoryMarche" channel.. Thanks for your research about Badr. Appreciate it.👏🏽 May Allah bless u.🤲🏽

[@HikmaHistory]

Thanks!

[@khaledabdo71]

Excellent

[@uzairahmed8309]

Fantastic video

[@HikmaHistory]

Thanks!

[@alZane]

Wonderful work brother! God bless you for your efforts ❤️

[@manooxi327]

tnx

[@b.ghould8077]

vids are awesome. haven't watch Afgh. yet.

[@cageybee7221]

imagine forming a dual monarchy and then IMMIDIATELY losing the most valuable kingdom

[@7marwallah]

In Egyptian Arabic the J sound is not often used. Instead of Ja-mal it is pronounced Ga-mal

[@HikmaHistory]

So that's the strange thing I am confused about - the Arabic spelling is with the 'J' not the 'G/K'; is it just an idiosyncrasy the Egyptians have?

[@7marwallah]

@@HikmaHistory I assume as much, I'm no native speaker of Arabic myself. I'm actually Iraqi Kurd, but hope to learn the language one day. I'm just familiar with fact that Egyptians don't pronounce their Js instead they substitute them with Gs couldn't tell you why though, love the content by the way

[@ibrahim-sj2cr]

we know - but its stupid

[@HikmaHistory]

@@7marwallah Thanks Makwan, make sure you check out my Kurdistan video!

[@7marwallah]

@@HikmaHistory I did man! :D that’s how I found the channel in the first place it was great

[@naifalaida3198]

Smile to jannah my bro u r everywhere now.. 😂😂 I remember ur clips on insta

[@iliassaleh9324]

good vid

[@HikmaHistory]

Thanks

[@eca3101]

Crazy seeing videos that one's own family was deeply involved in. I had family members who fought in basically every one of the wars Egypt was involved in during this era, and till this day my uncles still argue about it 😆 It's also important to note that just because Nasserism/pan-arabism was secular, it wasn't non-sectarian. Egyptian Christians, for example, while largely big fans of Nasser, were definitely given the short end of the stick. Non-alawites in Assad's syria (both father & son), etc. Great video 👍

[@Billythetoaster2004]

Why were Christians given the short end of the stick though?

[@eca3101]

@@Billythetoaster2004 not trusted w government or security positions, tacit discrimination, legal discrimination, etc.

[@amossa2319]

Can you do a video about french north during ww2 (arabian perspective)

[@savvy.1]

This Arab cold war is ruining the entire region.

[@mariyabiswas3391]

Discuss about the Cold War 2.0 in middle east among Saudi Arabia & Iran since 1979.

[@cyrusthegreat1893]

Excellent work and well done indeed! However, it would also be nice if you could make an educational and historical clip about the who the old Arabs were. Thanks!

[@panarabunity6077]

I’ve made videos on this topic.

[@mrmr446]

A bit surprised the Arab mujahideen who fought in Afghanistan weren't considered part of the Cold War. I remember Saudi tv news always giving the king his full title of 'Custodian of the two Holy Mosques' whenever he was mentioned but I think that started in '79.

[@napolien1310]

Ofc. Kinda sad u put Arab in it because they aren't only Arabs but from every corner of the world, also it was a cold war not an actual war the Almujahideen idea came after the Soviet union tried to conquer Afghanistan it was a noble cause at first until they became more radicalised and started bombing themselves and innocent up.

[@mrmr446]

@@napolien1310 They were collectively called 'Afghan-Arabs,' I'm aware that some were not Arab but enough were to give that name to the whole and they were financed and armed by US as part of the Cold War.

[@killerpie5981]

@@napolien1310 no they only became “ terrorists “ when they attacked America as the global media propaganda is funded by them

[@tj5180]

@@mrmr446 most of them were foreigners as well recruited by the ISI and CIA.

[@evanwinkler2434]

They were co-belligerents, but ultimately are not essential to understand this conflict because Afghanistan is ultimately outside the Arab World. Furthermore, while the Afghan Mujahideen did have a special relationship with the right-wing Arab states (as did Pakistan with both the Mujahideen and the right-wing Arab states), the left-wing Arab states did not have similarly close relations with the Communist Afghan government.

[@damien5748]

The problem with being the "poster boy" is so often the public image almost never lives up to the reality.

[@Akhjar7161]

Why King Faisal looks so much like Mohammed Bin Zayed of UAE? 6:41.

[@gelgamath_9903]

What's the difference between Baathism and Nasserism because from the outside they seem like there almost the same thing

[@kerbo312]

Ba'athisim is multi-party, while Nasserisim believes in the need of only one party to effectively lead the nation

[@eca3101]

@@kerbo312 Baathism is one party

[@kerbo312]

@@eca3101 that's not true, both Ba'athist Syria and Iraq were multi-party systems

[@eca3101]

@@kerbo312 that’s hilarious. Thanks for the laugh. They were (and Syria still is) notorious one party states.

[@kerbo312]

@@eca3101 uh huh right, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Syria

[@amori11100]

king Faisal is my favorite Saudi king he is a hero to me

[@AR-bf7tm]

Of course a US puppet would be your favourite King.

[@amori11100]

@@AR-bf7tm WOW, you must have a great deal of knowledge to get that conclusion. Anyhow, I do not give a damn about what you think.

[@strongereveryday8076]

the flag is the Syrian flag not Egyptian flag

[@HikmaHistory]

It was the Egyptian flag from the late 1950s to the early 1970s

[@KoreaMojo]

I think a big difference in between Egypt and the US intervention at that time is one was more so for independence from business interests and the other was only for business interests. One is more for humanistic reasons the other is for profits, all else be danged. I just felt a bit hurt hearing that. Small players, people, may have had noble ideas in the US but those in charge knew it was about imperialism friend regimes and all else was post hoc reasoning.

[@naifalaida3198]

Why didnt u mention tha fact that the french government themselves put khamini kharani whatever his name is. ?

[@HikmaHistory]

What do you mean?

[@naifalaida3198]

@@HikmaHistory its the fact that khamini landed in Iran 🇮🇷 in a french 🇫🇷 airplane. France and the allies helped create what we know today as the Iranian “islamic” republic. I believe that changes a lot 🤙🏽

[@nabilalhami1681]

Arab cold war may have ended back in 1979, but it seems like Saudi-Egyptian power battle still exists.

[@leaveme3559]

It doesnt egyptian dictator sold several islands to Saudi to get some international recognition they are best friends

[@napolien1310]

Still exist!! Dude they are best friends now, under what rock have u been sleeping!!

[@nabilalhami1681]

@@napolien1310 I guess I was wrong then. Maybe, rivalry still exists, just within say, football.

[@HikmaHistory]

@@nabilalhami1681 Yh, to me it looks the complete opposite atm tbh

[@ShubhamMishrabro]

Bro what saudi and Egypt are best friends. In gulf countries it is currently qatar vs saudi led countries but after ending of blockade they're again becoming friends. Iran and turkey are qatar friends as they want to and support Islamist groups whereas saudi led don't want to cause of us influence and danger to their monarchy.

[@losdirectosdetroopa973]

So this is how the tradición started??

[@lerneanlion]

Like everyone always believed, none of this would have happened if the Ottoman Empire is still in power.

[@JosephSmith-ix5il]

Even better would be that Eastern Roman Empire was still in power... So most of Middle East today wouldn't be so backward and in conflict now!

[@leaveme3559]

Even better none of this would have happened if Cyrus the greats empire was still in power

[@adeebibrahim6349]

Even better if the Neanderthals had defeated the homo sapiens.

[@napolien1310]

Are you kidding!! If the Ottoman empire still existed at that time and they still have hold over the middle east pre-ww1 there will be wars between Arabs and the Ottomans and even more people will get involve. I like the capable Ottoman empire not the old dying one.

[@lerneanlion]

@@napolien1310 The Ottoman Empire was only a few steps away from getting industrialized. When the Arabs revolted, they put the rebellion down and discovered the oil in the peninsula. This will greatly helped the Ottoman Sultanate's position for sure. Well, if they decided not to join World War I, of course.

[@SharifulIslam-ld5zr]

Nasser is a hero

[@Roboterpunk]

Nasser was by no means perfect. But sometimes I think he was the right man at the wrong time. He would be needed today.

[@tj5180]

Pan arab unity is a threat for israel but sadly arab states have normalized relations with Israel and others are exploiting the palestinian cause.

[@pabloescobar5371]

If Nasser, Saddam Hussein, Gaddafi, King Faisal and Yasser Arafat would be all together and work together in their prime and in the same timeline, they could defeat İsrael

[@huntermosely7420]

Gamal abdel nassar was probably the best leader to ever come put of the MENA. shame he was a bit pompous and didn't listen to Soviet advisors in the 67 war. He did however keep Israel up at night for many years. Also Kuwait was one of the only monarchies to stay on the side of the UAR. Kuwait is well known for being a monarchy but staunchly Arab nationlist

[@joaoribeiro5938]

There a joke in Israel that if Nasser stayed in power any longer the Israelis would control the pyramids

[@henrypicklevitz8870]

What is it exactly he did not listen to from the Soviets at the time ? Curious

[@tj5180]

@@henrypicklevitz8870 I assume he didnt trust the soviets. Sadat actually kicked out soviet advisors out of Egypt during the 1973 war and believed that the Soviets were secretly collaborating with israel. Arab leaders like Gaddafi and King Faisal etc also believed this

[@Alhazmi75]

that is the Syrian flag not Egyptian

[@napolien1310]

That was the Egyptian flag when they were called United Arab republic between 58-72

[@HikmaHistory]

@@napolien1310 Yhhhh, but I think it was the Egyptian flag until 1971

[@sel1661]

Nasser didn't really win the tripartite agression (FR, UK, Israel)... the US threatened the UK with economic collapse so they move out. Consequently so does France.

[@patrickasplund]

Someone is a communist sympathizer. When I heard the intro "The communist USSR and the Democratic and Capitalist USA". Why would the economic engine of the US have anything to do with its politics? I didn't hear you say "Socialist USSR" to highlight their economy?

[@supdoc9172]

Al-muqaddimah sent me

[@HikmaHistory]

Welcome!

[@danieltsiprun8080]

Where does the muslim brotherhood fit into this cold war?

[@zebrazero7956]

They were largely persecuted and jailed by Nasser government as they were his main political rivals in Egypt Under sadat they were reintegrated back to political life but only as a tool to fend off the communist party in egypt but after peace with israel they started to mock and ridicule him and he didn’t like that to say the least … so they were back to prison

[@ShubhamMishrabro]

They started in Egypt wanted islamic way of life which nasser didn't agreed to so he persecuted them. After israel Egypt treaty i think one member killed sadat. After arab revolution they became legal party and government but some of their laws wasn't liked by public and other moderate politician so a military coup happened which banned them

[@pabloescobar5371]

@@ShubhamMishrabro Egypt was always "in a islamic way of life", therefore the muslim brotherhood was unnecessary and bring only fitnah to the muslim arab countrys

[@pabloescobar5371]

Now the muslim brotherhood would be wished, that all arab leders today would and act like Nasser in the past to destroy Israel

[@ShubhamMishrabro]

Man hikma. This video and evolution of cold war year by year were only good videos. This collaboration was disappointing. You and one more channel gave best content to this playlist otherwise same old content and boring topics

[@HikmaHistory]

Glad to hear you enjoyed the vid!

[@ShubhamMishrabro]

@@HikmaHistory yeah bro

[@evanwinkler2434]

*Rest of the World:* Liberalism vs Communism *Arab World:* Conservatism vs Fascism

[@ewnetu4813]

Nasranism ðaðs it was wrong if we have ⏲️ Israel is she exists

[@stephenlennon7369]

Egypt in the 6 day War was attacked by Israel the aggressor

[@user-ke2ug1dk2s]

Nasser 🥵🥵🥵

[@constantineergius1626]

If its Saudi Arabia vs commies i side with Saudi Arabia

[@HikmaHistory]

Not a fan of Communism?

[@constantineergius1626]

@@HikmaHistory half of my browser history is literally “mi general augusto pinochet” all they do is rob, steal, loot, destroy cultures, persecute religion and divide people by religion and biological sex... although to be fair I think you know my approach by now

[@HikmaHistory]

@@constantineergius1626 Woah

[@sadeksama5057]

It's not communisme it's pan arabism Saudi's were brought to power by westerns Pan arabists didn't like westerns in the region and didn't like monarchies that were put by the brits and the Americans They wanted to turn Saudi and Jordan to republics were the power is in the hand of the people not in the hand of a monarch Both the parties were Muslims So communisme is not a factor here

[@constantineergius1626]

@@sadeksama5057 to be fair the communists were allies of convenience with them at least . That being said monarchy is generally per capita the cheapest form of government tax rate wise so there’s also that