Egypt and American Foreign Assistance 1952-1956 Hopes Dashed

Unprecedented in its use of Egyptian official sources, this book sheds new light on the difficulties and challenges of a nascent relationship characterized by missed opportunities, mixed messages, and mutual frustrations. Alterman compellingly shows how the interests of the U.S. and Egypt diverged to undermine this early American attempt at economic assistance for Egyptian development. He shows how the attempt was stymied by bureaucratic obstacles both in Egypt and the U.S. and how it became entangled in the politics of the Cold War and the Arab-Israeli conflict. This important book reveals the complexities of linking economic aid with political objectives.

Jon B. Alterman is a program officer at the U.S. Institute of Peace, and is a former member of the Policy Planning Staff at the U.S. Department of State.