| Arab Nationalism is a kind of political thoughts and practices which base on neoteric Arab nation awakening and aim at a series of national right of existence, equality, independence, unification and development. It is the results of collision and exchange between eastern and western civilization and by-products from combination of Western nationalistic thoughts and Eastern traditional Arab items (such as race, language, literature, tradition, region etc.). It is evidently composite characteristics. Comparing to the west, Arab nationalism belongs to category of eastern nationalism and is protective evidently. The word Arab Nationalism is coherent, but it developed with society and social relation. This development included idealism, economy, religion and society. Arab nationalism or general Arab Nationalism is a way for Arab nation to explore in future and is a theory and tool for protecting national rights and development in essence. Arab Nationalism emphasize that Arab people is an unified nation, and they long for building an united and independent Arab country to fulfill great renaissance of Arab nation.The development of earlier Arab Nationalism and movement can be divided into two stages-Nation awakening and King Era (in this stage the leader of general Arab movement is traditional societal elite) from 1798 to 1950s. During the national awakening, Arab nationalism experiences pregnancy stage of culture renaissance and then go to the stage of political pursuit. Arab Christians take a pioneer role in the process and present the mundane Arab nationalistic thought and lead the national movement of local regions in Arab world in 19 Century. Moslem Arab derived Arab nationalism thoughts from Islamic Modernism and Reformism in the late 19 Century. In the long run, the two thoughts are concealed before the World War I and Moslem Arabs has the leadership of Arab National movement gradually. However, at that time, Ottomanism is still the main thoughts which affect most Arabs deeply and this leads to the incompleteness of national fight, to seek for the national autonomy in the way of revolution in the framework of Ottoman Empire. However, the centralization and turkey's policy implemented by The Young Turk after the revolution of 1908 destroy the Arab national fantasy and force them to fight for national independence. Finally, Arab revolution erupts in the World War I. Because of betray of western countries and inner course of its own, the revolution is defeated and united Arab nation is not constructed, but new political entities are created gradually and some leaders are still pushing forward the development of Arab Nationalism movement.This is called - the King Era. The theory of Arab nationalism complemented gradually in the second period, and there are some philosopher such as Sati al-Husri and Michel Aflaq. In the political practice, there are Iraq's Faisal, Amir Abdallah, Nuri al-sa'id etc. Especially Egypt government is involved and put much energy in the torrent of general Arab national movement to build The League of Arab States. The creation of relaxed Arab League declares depression of general Arab united movement. It is noted that the problem of Palestine become more and more sharp, and become a flag of Pan-Arab Nationalism movement. However, all those nations can not prevent Jesus from establishing country .The defeat of Palestine war push the aristocrat of the movement to Serbonian bog arid newly grown-up political power become their tome miner. The Pan Arab movement is ended in King Era.The characteristics of earlier Arab national movement are that: First, Arab Nationalism is the product of communication of eastern and western civilization, and appears different era characteristics in different stages originally; Second, Arab Nationalism belongs to Cultural Nationalism from the view of thought and political practice; Third, the Concept of Arab Nation is changed and expanded gradually, at first, it only includes eastern Arab, and then western Arab is combined after 1920s; Fourth, in the earlier Arab national movement traditional political power takes the leadership. Fifth, the goal of fight, way and enemy changes slightly in the two stages; Sixth, the movement is unbalanced in different regions; Seventh, Arab Nationalists belong to many different groups; Eighth, there exists very complicated relationship between Arab Nationalism and Islam, Country's Nationalism and Church; Ninth, , the thoughts of cooperation and union in non-political field, especially in economic and cultural become dominant in the creed of Arab Nationalism in the long run; Tenth, the development of Arab Nationalism is not smooth and is disturbed by many historical and practical factors in a whole, which decide the general line pursuing development in adversity and hidden trouble is buried for future development because of some congenital factors.The historical meanings of earlier Arab national movement are that: First, the rising of nationalism in Arab world pioneers a new routine different from traditional one; Second, the new conception of constructing country causes Arab people to be separated from formulation of religion / empire, and be immersed in construction onrush in neoteric world; Third, the grown-up of nationalism awakens and changes Arab's traditional idea, and adapts them to the new one of national development; Fourth, the thoughts of nationalism rebuilds Arab nation in the background of new era; Fifth, the babyish Pan-Arabism especially in King Era establishes development contrail of Arab world. For national goals, pursuing national independence or freedom becomes common sense of every estate. For national union, complete cooperation between independent countries replaces political union. For Pan-Arabism - Palestine problem, Palestine war declares the defeat of power solution and foretells the exclusive choice of peaceful negotiation; Sixthly, Arab nationalism movement helps and encourages liberation war of oppressed nations in some degree.Failure of union movement of early Pan-Arabism is the results of influence of inner and outer factors. The existence of outer power stayed in Arab world destroys union of geography, society, economy, culture and spirits of Arab world, separates the connection of different regions, obstacles development of Arab unity movement which is thought to be outer factors. However, deeper reasons should be found in inner world. Inner reasons include that political structure of Arab world and deeply dispute weakens the base of Pan-Arabism movement. In local region, the thoughts of Religious Minorities and Sectarianism deny and destroy Arab nationalism movement and its premise-the sincerity of country. Some non-Arab nations pursuit the unity of theirs own not the whole Arab nations. Regional Nationalism and Islamism obstacle the development of Pan-Arab unity movement Weak sovereignty of Arab countries and diverse political rules weaken the political base of movement of Pan-Arab unity. Unbalance of economy, culture and base of society between different regions also lag the unified movement. It is noted that there commonly exists encouragement and cooperation between many inner factors and outer factors which destroy Arab unity. |
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