History of Anwar Sadat

Anwar Sadat, born on December 25, 1918, in Mit Abu al-Kom, Egypt, remains a complex and pivotal figure in Middle Eastern politics, best known for his role in navigating Egypt through some of its most challenging periods of modern history. He succeeded Gamal Abdel Nasser as the President of Egypt and took office in October 1970, leading the country until his assassination in 1981. Sadat's political journey was marked by dramatic changes, shaping Egypt's domestic landscape and its foreign relations, most notably with Israel and the broader Arab world.

Sadat's early life set the stage for his political career. Raised in a populous village, his formative years were marked by a keen interest in military strategy and politics. He attended the Royal Military Academy in Cairo, and it was during his military service that he became involved with various nationalist groups, committed to liberating Egypt from British colonial rule. Sadat's involvement in politics deepened when he joined the Free Officers Movement, a group of revolutionary Egyptian nationalist officers in the armed forces that orchestrated the 1952 coup d'état, effectively ending the British-backed monarchy of King Farouk.

Post-revolution, Sadat rose through the ranks of government, serving in various important roles, including Speaker of the National Assembly and Vice President under Nasser. Following Nasser's sudden death in 1970, Sadat was seen initially as a transitional figure that would maintain the status quo. However, he quickly dispelled such notions, embarking on a period of significant change both domestically and in Egypt's foreign policy.

Domestically, Sadat launched what was called the “Corrective Revolution.” This was a series of policies aimed to purge Nasser-era statism and move Egypt towards a more open economic system. The policy of "Infitah," or "openness," endeavored to liberalize the Egyptian economy by encouraging foreign investment and reducing the heavy state control that characterized the Nasser years. This policy, while necessary, faced criticism and led to internal strife, especially among those accustomed to or who benefited from state-controlled mechanisms of Nasser’s socialist policies.

On the foreign policy front, Sadat's most defining achievement was the realignment of Egypt's relations with Israel. Seeking to recover the Sinai Peninsula, which had been occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War in 1967, Sadat shifted diplomatic strategies. Initially, he consolidated Egyptian military capabilities, which led to the Yom Kippur War (or October War) of 1973. This conflict, aimed at recapturing the Sinai and restoring Arab pride, initially caught Israel off guard and allowed Egypt to regain some of its lost territory, altering the region’s geopolitical dynamics and enabling Sadat to negotiate from a position of relative strength.

The diplomatic overtures towards peace culminated in Sadat's historic visit to Jerusalem in 1977, marking the first recognition of Israel by an Arab leader. This bold move shocked the Arab world and set the stage for the Camp David Accords brokered by U.S. President Jimmy Carter in 1978. The accords led to the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty signed in 1979, which resulted in Israel returning the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. However, the peace treaty isolated Egypt from other Arab nations and led to its temporary suspension from the Arab League. Sadat’s decisions fractured pan-Arab unity, but they also won him and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin the Nobel Peace Prize, making Sadat the first Arab laureate of the award.

Despite the international acclaim, domestically Sadat faced growing unrest. The rapid changes of the Infitah led to economic inequalities, rampant inflation, and discontent among Egypt’s lower classes coupled with fierce opposition from conservative and Islamist groups who viewed Sadat's western-oriented policies and peace with Israel as a betrayal. This internal opposition culminated in Sadat’s assassination on October 6, 1981, during a parade commemorating the eighth anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. The assailants, linked to an extremist faction within the Egyptian army, opposed his peace initiatives and liberal policies.

Anwar Sadat’s tenure as Egypt's president was one of revolutionary change in both Egypt’s economic structures and its global diplomatic stance. He navigated a critical period of transition from Nasser's socialist policies towards a more liberalized economy, while repositioning Egypt as a key player on the international stage through bold diplomatic overtures that shifted the dynamics of Middle Eastern politics. Although his domestic policies left him a divisive figure within Egypt, Sadat's progressive approach to foreign policy arguably laid the groundwork for peace in a historically tumultuous region, demonstrating a pragmatic vision that has shaped Egyptian politics long after his death. Sadat's legacy is, thus, a testament to the complexity and nuance required in leadership, especially within a region as volatile as the Middle East.