Why is the Middle East still reflected in the Nile?

This article offers a profound analysis of Egypt's role as a matrix of political conflicts in the Middle East. Drawing on the work of Fawaz A. Gerges, the author deconstructs the myth of a purely ideological clash between secular nationalism and radical Islam, revealing their common roots in anti-colonial rage. At its center is the dual biographies of Gamal Abdel Nasser and Sayyid Qutb, whose bloody dispute over a fortress state shaped the region's modern authoritarianism. The text explains why contemporary geopolitics, from Israel's actions to Iranian influence, is still filtered through colonial trauma and the struggle for a monopoly on national representation, making Egyptian history key to understanding today's tensions.