Identity-Orientation Developments in Egypt's Foreign Policy

This article aims to study the foundation of developments in Egypt's foreign policy. Since the Second World War, Egypt's foreign policy has experienced four periods with their own specific bases, foundations and goals each requiring separate consideration. The domination of different identity elements in different elements in different periods has led to evident differences in Egypt's foreign policy. Pan-Arabism in Jamal Abdel Nasser's period, Patriotism in Sadat; era, dual identity during Mubarak's rule, and finally the Islamic identity of Morsi government, each gave a different conceptual framework and worldview to Egyptian decision-makers in the realm of foreign policy making it a varied phenomenon. The importance of this debate, in addition to its explanatory value, lies in providing a framework for studying the future developments of Egypt's foreign policy and beyond those other Arab states. This article tries to answer the pivotal question that why during these four main periods of Egypt's foreign policy, some determining events have made these four periods different in terms of goals, means and approaches to outside world. Its hypothesis is that changing identity is the basis of transformation in foreign policy and any change in identity at the level of ruling elite brings about change in Egypt's foreign policy.