How did the Six-Day War of 1967 impact the stability of authoritarian regimes in the Middle East?

The Six-Day War of 1967 significantly destabilised authoritarian regimes in the Middle East, leading to increased political volatility and conflict.

The Six-Day War, also known as the June War, was a pivotal event in the history of the Middle East. It was fought between Israel and the neighbouring states of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. The war resulted in a decisive Israeli victory, with Israel capturing the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights. This victory had profound implications for the stability of authoritarian regimes in the region.

Firstly, the war exposed the military weakness of the Arab authoritarian regimes. Despite their superior numbers and equipment, the Arab armies were decisively defeated by Israel. This undermined the legitimacy of these regimes, as they had often justified their authoritarian rule by claiming that it was necessary to protect their countries from Israeli aggression. The war showed that they were unable to fulfil this promise, leading to widespread disillusionment and unrest.

In Egypt, for example, the defeat led to widespread protests against President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Although Nasser initially announced his resignation, he was persuaded to stay in power by massive public demonstrations. However, his prestige was severely damaged, and he was unable to prevent the rise of more radical elements within the Egyptian government. This led to increased political instability and set the stage for the more radical policies of his successor, Anwar Sadat.

In Syria, the loss of the Golan Heights was a major blow to the prestige of the Ba'athist regime. The regime's inability to recapture the Golan Heights in the subsequent Yom Kippur War further undermined its legitimacy. This led to a series of coups and counter-coups, culminating in the rise to power of Hafez al-Assad in 1970.

In Jordan, the war led to a major crisis for King Hussein. The loss of the West Bank, which had a majority Palestinian population, threatened to destabilize his regime. This led to the Black September conflict in 1970, in which the Jordanian army brutally suppressed Palestinian militants.

In conclusion, the Six-Day War of 1967 had a profound impact on the stability of authoritarian regimes in the Middle East. The war exposed the military weakness of these regimes and undermined their legitimacy, leading to increased political volatility and conflict. This set the stage for a period of increased instability and radicalisation in the region, the effects of which are still felt today.