Date of Award

4-6-2026

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Professor Timothy Barr

Second Advisor

Professor Smita Rahman

Third Advisor

Professor Robert Dewey

Abstract

In the mid-twentieth century, Gamal Abdel Nasser emerged as a powerful figure in Egypt and the rest of the Arab world, seeking to uplift the region in the era of decolonization. While contemporary scholars have analyzed Nasserism as a contradiction of itself, an ideology that originated as liberation but resulted in autocratic rule, less attention has been paid to instead break down what made Nasserism so appealing to his audience. I draw upon Max Weber’s theory of charismatic authority and Maurice Charland’s concept of constitutive rhetoric in interpreting Nasserism in three phases: as a political theory, as a ruling ideology, and as a legacy. I read The Philosophy of the Revolution, examine a selection of Nasser's speeches at moments of political crisis and victory, and then the works and addresses of subsequent leaders. Gamal Abdel Nasser’s power cannot be understood through conventional measures like the military success of Egypt during his rule, but through his application of rhetoric. This study shows the importance and method of accounting for rhetorical and charismatic effects in an understanding of populist leaders.

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