The fate of the United Arab Republic project: long-awaited emergence and natural destruction of the pan-arab state

The unification between Egypt and Syria (1958–1961) not only played an important role in the history of these countries, but also had a significant impact on the development of the Arab world in the second half of the twentieth century. Despite its historical relevance, there are almost no detailed studies in Russian historiography that are devoted to the fate of the United Arab Republic (UAR) project. The purpose of this article is to identify the prerequisites for the formation and collapse of the UAR. The main objectives of the study are to reveal the major trends that influenced the course of the historical process in Syria during the period of unification, and to identify the key reasons for the failure of the UAR project. Detailed analysis of English, Russian and Arabic sources allows to draw the following conclusions. The core reasons for the creation of the UAR were Nasser’s will to consolidate his leadership position in the Arab world and the attempt of the Ba’ath Party and a number of higher Syrian officers to prevent the brewing civil conflict in Syria and avoid the establishment of communist power there. While implementing political centralization in the UAR Nasser took several steps to limit the influence of the army, political parties, commercial elite, tribal leaders and trade unions. As a result, former members of the Ba’ath Party who initiated the unification turned their backs on the Egyptian leader. Finally, Nasser had neither social institutions nor political figures in Syria to rely upon, resulting in the military coup and the collapse of the UAR.