The Corrective Revolution
Encyclopedia
The Corrective Revolution is an expression used by some self-described revolutionary
governments in the Arab World
to describe an internal political or bureaucratic power struggle, and also to indicate continued adherence to the ideals of an earlier revolution
despite major policy changes, or the absence/overthrow of its previous leadership.
as President of Egypt
were a corrective revolution. His ascent to power began in October 1970 and the Corrective Revolution reached full bloom in early 1971. It involved purging Nasserist members of the government and security forces, often considered pro-Soviet and leftwing, and drumming up popular support by presenting the takeover as a continuation of the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, while at the same time radically changing track on issues of foreign policy, economy, and ideology. Sadat's Corrective Revolution also included the imprisonment of other political forces in Egypt, including liberals
, and Islamists. The imprisonment of Islamists had a strong effect later on, as these Islamists were often members of the Takfir wal-Hijra
movement and the Corrective Revolution marked the beginning of the crackdown that caused them to spread across the Arab World, and Europe, ultimately resulting in the spread of radical political Islam in these regions and also the assassination of Sadat.
in 1970, bringing Hafez al-Assad
to power. It was directed against a dominant ultraleft-wing faction of the party and, to some extent, provoked by what Assad and his supporters saw as adventureous and irresponsible foreign policies (notably the Syrian intervention in the Black September
conflict in Jordan
, after which the Black September
Palestinian faction was named). As a result of the coup, de facto leader Salah Jadid
was ousted and the party was purged.
(NLF)'s successful internal coup in 1969. The leftist takeover later led to the creation of the Yemeni Socialist Party
(YSP), and South Yemen's transformation into the only Arab state to embrace doctrinaire Marxism.
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either actively participates in, or advocates revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.-Definition:...
governments in the Arab World
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
to describe an internal political or bureaucratic power struggle, and also to indicate continued adherence to the ideals of an earlier revolution
Revolution
A revolution is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time.Aristotle described two types of political revolution:...
despite major policy changes, or the absence/overthrow of its previous leadership.
Egypt
Anwar El Sadat's policies after succeeding the late Gamal Abdel NasserGamal Abdel Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was the second President of Egypt from 1956 until his death. A colonel in the Egyptian army, Nasser led the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 along with Muhammad Naguib, the first president, which overthrew the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan, and heralded a new period of...
as President of Egypt
President of Egypt
The President of the Arab Republic of Egypt is the head of state of Egypt.Under the Constitution of Egypt, the president is also the supreme commander of the armed forces and head of the executive branch of the Egyptian government....
were a corrective revolution. His ascent to power began in October 1970 and the Corrective Revolution reached full bloom in early 1971. It involved purging Nasserist members of the government and security forces, often considered pro-Soviet and leftwing, and drumming up popular support by presenting the takeover as a continuation of the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, while at the same time radically changing track on issues of foreign policy, economy, and ideology. Sadat's Corrective Revolution also included the imprisonment of other political forces in Egypt, including liberals
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
, and Islamists. The imprisonment of Islamists had a strong effect later on, as these Islamists were often members of the Takfir wal-Hijra
Takfir wal-Hijra
Jama'at al-Muslimin , popularly known as Takfir wal-Hijra , was a radical Islamist group led by Shukri Mustafa, which emerged in Egypt in the 1960s as an offshoot of Muslim Brotherhood, inspired by Sayyid Qutb.The group was...
movement and the Corrective Revolution marked the beginning of the crackdown that caused them to spread across the Arab World, and Europe, ultimately resulting in the spread of radical political Islam in these regions and also the assassination of Sadat.
Syria
The Corrective Revolution, better known as the Corrective Movement, was a military-pragmatist faction's takeover within the Ba'ath Party regime of SyriaSyria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
in 1970, bringing Hafez al-Assad
Hafez al-Assad
Hafez ibn 'Ali ibn Sulayman al-Assad or more commonly Hafez al-Assad was the President of Syria for three decades. Assad's rule consolidated the power of the central government after decades of coups and counter-coups, such as Operation Wappen in 1957 conducted by the Eisenhower administration and...
to power. It was directed against a dominant ultraleft-wing faction of the party and, to some extent, provoked by what Assad and his supporters saw as adventureous and irresponsible foreign policies (notably the Syrian intervention in the Black September
Black September in Jordan
September 1970 is known as the Black September in Arab history and sometimes is referred to as the "era of regrettable events." It was a month when Hashemite King Hussein of Jordan moved to quash the militancy of Palestinian organizations and restore his monarchy's rule over the country. The...
conflict in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, after which the Black September
Black September (group)
The Black September Organization was a Palestinian paramilitary group, founded in 1970. It was responsible for the kidnapping and murder of eleven Israeli athletes and officials, and fatal shooting of a West German policeman, during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, their most publicized event...
Palestinian faction was named). As a result of the coup, de facto leader Salah Jadid
Salah Jadid
Salah Jadid was a Syrian general and political figure in the Baath Party, and the country's de facto leader from 1966 until 1970.- Rise to power :...
was ousted and the party was purged.
South Yemen
The Corrective Revolution or Corrective Step was the Abdel Fattah Ismail Marxist faction of the South Yemeni National Liberation FrontNational Liberation Front (Yemen)
The National Liberation Front or NLF was a military organization operating in the Federation of South Arabia in the 60s. During the North Yemen Civil War fighting spilled over into South Yemen as the British tried to exit its Federation of South Arabia colony...
(NLF)'s successful internal coup in 1969. The leftist takeover later led to the creation of the Yemeni Socialist Party
Yemeni Socialist Party
The Yemeni Socialist Party is a political party in Yemen.It was the ruling party in South Yemen, the only Marxist Arab state, before unification in 1990...
(YSP), and South Yemen's transformation into the only Arab state to embrace doctrinaire Marxism.