THE PERSONALITY CULT OF NASSER-Nasser remained extremely popular both in Egypt and in the Arab world, despite of having lost the war and the economic crises.

-He was a very persuasive orator, he spoke to the Egyptian people using a language that the ordinary man could understand.

-Nasser lived in a modest suburban villa and would regularly home for lunch. Heads of state were invited to have dinner at his home. (see sources e, f and g pages 242-243)

-He did not create a dynasty and had no plans for his children to succeed him.

-The CIA noted that Nasser was a difficult target, he was clean, ha had no vices. There was nothing they could find to use against him; however the CIA wanted to get rid of him and, British and French plotted to assassinate him.

NASSER: SOCIAL POLICIES

EDUCATION-The level of illiteracy was high and education was not available to everybody.-Nasser wanted the population to be educated in a way they would support and follow his political aspirations.-Primary schooling became compulsory. Between 1952 and 1957 attendance increased by 40%.-Literacy reached 50% by 1970.-Nasser encouraged the teaching of science and technology in order to modernize Islam.-University tuition was free and there were small grants for students who could not support themselves.-Out of 80,000 secondary graduates in 1969, 34,000 went on to higher education.

THE ROLE OF WOMEN-The veil was banned.-Women had better access to education and professions were opened up to them.-Nasser was accustomed to women being mother and wives rather than having careers, however, Madam Tito talked him round to including in the National Charter the equality of women.

- He was persuaded this was needed to push forward the economic growth of the country.

- The population was growing quickly (26 million in 1960), so a family planning was necessary. Hikmat Abu-Zayd (first time a woman had held a cabinet post) was appointed as Minister of Social Affairs in 1962.

- The role did not change much. In the countryside, women led traditional lives and young girls were often removed from school at an early age.

- Even so, the number of children at schools rose from 1,300,000 to 3,400,000 from 1952 to 1966 and more than 1,300,000 were girls.

- Out of 120,000 students, 30,000 were women in higher education in 1969.

THE MEDIA AND CULTURE-The newspapers came under state ownership in 1960, and there was strict censorship.

-Nasser was greeted enthusiastically at first by writers, but encountered their opposition when there was suppression of the right to freedom of speech and expression.

-Nasser enjoyed films, mostly of the sentimental kind which gave him a release from the stress of leadership.

-Mohammad Heikal, Minister of National Guidance and Nasser’s closest friend, was the editor-in-chief of al-Ahram (national newspaper).

-The film industry was nationalized in 1963 and class struggle became the theme of many popular films. (see sources a and b page 245)

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