Federation of Arab Republics

This article is about the union of Egypt, Syria, and Libya. For the 1958-1961 union of Egypt and Syria, see United Arab Republic. For the 1974 union of Tunisia and Libya, see Arab Islamic Republic.

Federation of Arab Republics إتحاد الجمهوريات العربية (Arabic) Ittiḥād al-Jumhūrīyāt al-'Arabīyah
1972–1977
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: "Walla Zaman Ya Selahy" (English: "Oh For Ages! My Weapon!") (by Egypt and Libya) Humat ad-Diyar (English: "Guardians of the Homeland") (by Syria)
The Federation of Arab Republics in 1972.
Capital	Cairo (Egypt) Tripoli (Libya) Damascus (Syria)
Common languages	Arabic
Government	Republic under a confederation
Legislature	Federal National Assembly
Historical era	Arab Cold War
• Referendums held	1 September 1971
• Federation established	1 January 1972
• Disestablished	19 November 1977
Area
• Total	2,895,128 km^2 (1,117,815 sq mi)
Currency	Egyptian pound Libyan dinar Syrian pound
Preceded by Succeeded by Arab Republic of Egypt Libyan Arab Republic Syrian Arab Republic Arab Republic of Egypt Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Syrian Arab Republic
Today part of	Egypt Libya Syria

The Federation of Arab Republics (FAR; Arabic: إتحاد الجمهوريات العربية, Ittiḥād al-Jumhūrīyāt al-'Arabīyah, lit. 'Union of Arab Republics') was an unsuccessful attempt by Muammar Gaddafi to merge Libya, Egypt and Syria in order to create a unified Arab state. Although approved by a referendum in each country on 1 September 1971,^[1] the three countries disagreed on the specific terms of the merger. The federation lasted from 1 January 1972 to 19 November 1977.

History

In 1969, Arab nationalist military officers seized power in Libya. The ideological influence of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser over the new Libyan government was immediately apparent.^[2] The administration was immediately recognized by the Arab nationalist governments in Egypt, Iraq, Sudan and Syria^[3] with Egypt sending experts to aid Libya's inexperienced government.^[4] Gaddafi propounded Pan-Arab ideas, proclaiming the need for a single Arab state stretching across North Africa and the Middle East. In December 1969, Libya founded the Arab Revolutionary Front with Egypt and Sudan as a step towards political unification, and in 1970 Syria stated its intention to join.^[5]

After Nasser's death in September 1970, his successor, Anwar Sadat, suggested that rather than a unified state, they create a political federation. It was implemented in April 1971 which enabled Egypt, Syria and Sudan to get large grants of Libyan oil money.^[6] In February 1972, Gaddafi and Sadat signed an unofficial charter of merger, but it was never implemented as relations broke down the following year. Sadat became increasingly wary of Libya's radical direction, and the September 1973 deadline for implementing the Federation passed by with no action taken.^[7] In October 1973 Egypt and Syria, without consulting Libya, launched a coordinated offensive on Israel, initiating the October war.^[8] Sadat agreed to open negotiations with Israel, seeking the return of the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt from the violent Israeli occupation. Gaddafi was displeased by the war's limited objectives and the ceasefire, and accused Sadat of undermining the FAR^[9] and betraying the cause.^[10] Sadat responded by revealing he had intervened earlier that year to prevent Libya from sinking a civilian passenger ship carrying Jewish tourists in the Mediterranean Sea. Thereafter Egyptian–Libyan relations were marked by frequent accusations against each country's leaders, and further discussions regarding the pursuit of unity were abandoned.

Referendums

Three simultaneous referendums on the Federation of Arab Republics were held on 1 September 1971, in Egypt, Libya and Syria.^[11] In the Egyptian referendum the proposal was approved by 99.96% of voters,^[12] in the Libyan referendum it was approved by 98.6% of voters,^[13] whilst in Syria 96.4% voted in favour.^[14]

Other Federations of Arab Republics

• Federation between Egypt, Libya and Sudan (1969/70–1971)
• Federation between Egypt, Libya and Syria (1971/72–1974/77)
• Union between Egypt and Libya within the Federation (1972–1973/74)
• Union between Egypt and Syria within the Federation (1976–1977)
• Federation between Egypt, Sudan and Syria (1977)

• 
  FAR 1970, Syria intends to join the Egyptian-Libyan-Sudanese Federation
• 
  FAR 1971, Sudan is said to join later but keeps outside the Federation
• 
  FAR 1972, Iraq is invited to join the Egyptian-Libyan-Syrian Federation

• 
  FAR 1973, Egypt and Libya fail to form a Union within the Federation
• 
  FAR 1976, Egypt and Syria intend to form a Union within the Federation
• 
  FAR 1977, Sudan intends to join the Egypt-Syrian Federation

Symbols of member states

Flags

• 
  Egyptian flag used until 1984, 7 years after the dissolution
• 
  Libyan flag used until 1977
• 
  Syrian flag used until 1980, 3 years after the dissolution

Coats of arms

• 
  Egyptian coat of arms used until 1984, 7 years after the dissolution
• 
  Libyan coat of arms used until 1977
• 
  Syrian coat of arms used until 1980, 3 years after the dissolution

Maps

• 
  Location of Egypt
• 
  Location of Libya
• 
  Location of Syria

See also

• Union of Arab Republics, Iraqi counter-proposal to the Federation of Arab Republics
• Arab Federation, a confederation between Iraq and Jordan (1958)
• Arab Islamic Republic, a proposed union of Libya and Tunisia (1974)
• United Arab Emirates, a union of seven Arab states (1971–present day)
• United Arab Republic, a union between Egypt and Syria (1958–61)
• United Arab States, a confederation between the United Arab Republic and the Kingdom of Yemen (1958–61)
• Unified Political Command, merger projects between Egypt and Iraq as well as between Egypt and North Yemen

References

Citations

1. Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p336 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
2. Vandewalle 2008, p. 9; St. John 2012, p. 137.
3. Blundy & Lycett 1987, p. 60; Kawczynski 2011, p. 18.
4. Blundy & Lycett 1987, pp. 62–63; Kawczynski 2011, p. 18.
5. Blundy & Lycett 1987, p. 75; Kawczynski 2011, p. 65; St. John 2012, p. 186.
6. Harris 1986, p. 87; Kawczynski 2011, p. 65; St. John 2012, pp. 151–152.
7. Kawczynski 2011, p. 66; St. John 2012, p. 182.
8. Metz 1989, p. 52.
9. Metz 1989, p. 53.
10. Pollack 2004, p. 132.
11. Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p336 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
12. Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p340 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
13. Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p528 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
14. Syrien, 1. September 1971 : Bildung der Vereinigten Arabischen Republik Direct Democracy (in German)

Sources

• Blundy, David; Lycett, Andrew (1987). Qaddafi and the Libyan Revolution. Boston and Toronto: Little Brown & Co. ISBN 978-0-316-10042-7.
• Harris, Lillian Craig (1986). Libya: Qadhafi's Revolution and the Modern State. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press. ISBN 0-8133-0075-4.
• Kawczynski, Daniel (2011). Seeking Gaddafi: Libya, the West and the Arab Spring. Biteback. ISBN 978-1-84954-148-0.
• Vandewalle, Dirk (2008), "Libya's Revolution in Perspective: 1969–2000", Libya Since 1969: Qadhafi's Revolution Revisited, Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 9–53, ISBN 978-0-230-33750-3
• Metz, Helen Chapin, ed. (1989). Libya: A Country Study. Area Handbook Series (fourth ed.). Washington D. C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. LCCN 88600480.
• Pollack, Kenneth Michael (2004). Arabs at War: Military Effectiveness, 1948–1991. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-0686-1.
• St. John, Ronald Bruce (2012). Libya : from colony to revolution. Oxford, England: Oneworld. ISBN 978-1-85168-919-4.