ABSTRACT
The Egyptian revolution of 1952 was the first radical revolution in the Arabic-speaking countries of the Near East. It had two main features. The first was the replacement of the old landed urban notables who had dominated the political system of Egypt since the nineteenth century by a new ruling élite composed initially of military officers and subsequently of a mixed military—civilian class of state functionaries. The second was a major shift of political, economic and social power to the state.
