Communist Party of Egypt Collection
Period
(1975-) 1981-1987 (-1996)
Total size
1
m.
Consultation
Not restricted
History
Being dissatisfied with the merger of the al-Hizb al-Shuyuci al-Misri (Communist Party of Egypt, CPE) in the Nasserist Arab Socialist Union (ASU) in 1965 former party members started publishing the independent communist journal al-Intisar (Victory) in 1973; the capitalist and pro-Western policy of president Sadat made them decide to re-establish the CPE in 1975; in 1978 the party drew up its programme, calling for the overthrow of capitalism, the termination of the capitulation policy with Israel and the return of Egypt to the progressive Arab camp; being excluded from the general elections in 1987 its candidates were supported by the Tagammuc Party.
Content
Part of its records consisting of minutes of and other documents relating to the meeting of the Central Committee in 1984; resolutions by the Central Committee 1981-1989; documents relating to congresses, including statutes, the party programme and a report of the third congress 1981, 1983; reports and analyses by the CPE of the political and economic situation in Egypt 1980-1996; communiques 1984-1988; leaflets and pamphlets 1981-1996; a number of copies of al-Intisar, of al-Hayat al-Hizbiyya and of other CPE periodicals 1979-1996; documents relating to the Union of Democratic Egyptian Youth (UDEY) 1978-1980; some correspondence with the editors of al-Nahj 1987-1989; joint communiques with other communist parties from the Middle East 1975, 1980-1985; pamphlets, leaflets and other printed documents of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Tagammuc Party and other organizations 1978-1988; clippings 1975-1986.
Arrangement
The collection of the
Communist Party of Egypt
was acquired with the assistence
of Dr.
Rifcat al-Sacid
. In 1995 it was brought to
Amsterdam from Minsk in White Russia where the collection was kept in the
custody of an Egyptian émigré during the 1980s. The collection is probably a
`shadow' or `reserve' archive of the CPE consisting mostly of duplicates of
documents. It is not an original archives in the strict meaning of the word: it
doesn't contain, for instance, correspondence by the Central Committee. Some
sections of the collection do, however, appear to be parts of the original
archives, such as the extensive and unique documentation of the meeting of the
Central Committee in November 1984, which contains minutes of the meeting,
adopted resolutions and the four discussed working papers (see nos. 2-14).
Although the collection is not complete, it does give a unique insight into the
thought and strategy of the CPE on account of the diversity of the documents,
ranging from congress papers, resolutions and lengthy analyses used for
determining the strategy of the party, to specialised activities of the CPE
such as its student movement. In addition, the collection contains leaflets and
pamphlets issued by the CPE on internal Egyptian and foreign Egyptian affairs;
several party periodicals such as al-Intisar, al-Nashra al-Tanzimiyya and
al-Wacy; and furthermore newspaper clippings and other documentation collected
by members of the CPE.
At the end of 1997 the arrangement of the
collection, which wasn't properly arranged, has been started. Documents
relating to the same subjects have been grouped together and series have been
made of resolutions by the Central Committee, of communiques and of copies of
party periodicals. In January 1998 the work has been completed.
Processing information
Inventory made by Roel Meijer in 1998
INTRODUCTION
History
After the Communist party of Egypt dissolved
itself in 1965 and was united with the
Arab Socialist Union
(ASU
), many of its members were demoralized. They remained
unconvinced of the wisdom of the decision to become completely associated with
Nasserism and tried to maintain an independent stance. The desastrous results
of the Arab-Israeli war in 1967 provided them with the opportunity to create a
nucleus of a new communist movement. Regarding themselves not yet capable of
reestablishing a full-blown communist party, the group called itself
Jama'at bi-la Ism, `The Group Without a Name'
. It
published several leaflets under the name of Ahmed cUrabi al-Misri, the famous
national hero who had led the revolt against the British in 1882, and during
the October war in 1973 the group started to publish
al-Intisar
(Victory)
. Gradually al-Intisar became a regularly published
periodical. When the capitalist and pro-Western policy of Sadat became more
obvious, the group decided to reestablish itself as a Communist Party. In
January 1974 it formed a founding Central Committee, which issued a lengthy
document enumerating the minimum conditions for establishing a Communist party;
in August it published a draft programme for action for the Egyptian popular
forces, and on 1 May 1975 the group finally declared itself the renewed
Communist Party of Egypt (CPE)
.
The high theoretical
level of the CPE is evident in the numerous analyses it produced of Egypt's
political and economic situation. In July 1975 the CPE issued its first
programme report in which it described Egypt as having joined a common alliance
with capitalist and imperialist forces of the United States, Israel and the
rich oil states of the Gulf. The pamphlets and leaflets the CPE issued during
the 1970s and early 1980s point out the inter-relationship between Egypt's
integration into the capitalist world, the peace with Israel and its increasing
isolation in the Arab world. Egypt's growing dependency on the United States
was also related to the weakening of the Palestinian resistance and the
outbreak of the Lebanese civil war.
In June and July 1978 the politbureau
of the party met to formulate a new programme of action to respond to the
deteriorating economic and political developments.
In its programme the
CPE called for the immediate overthrow of the `parasitic capitalist regime' of
Sadat, the rejection of the capitulation policy with Israel, the mobilization
of the masses to liberate all occupied Arab land, and the return of Egypt to
the progressive Arab camp. In September 1980 the CPE held its first party
congress. The congress produced five documents: the party programme, its
bylaws, an organizational report, and two working papers - `The National
Democratic Front in Egypt' and `Consolidation of the Egyptian Communist
Movement.' In 1984 the CPE held its second congress and in 1987 it nominated
four of its well-known leaders as candidates to participate in the general
elections. Because the party was banned from running the elections, its
candidates were supported by the
Tagammuc Party
as
individuals on nonparty lists through the publication of their campaign
propaganda in its newspaper. The CPE's basic platform consisted of the repeal
of the Camp David accords and the call for the end of Egypt's political,
economic and military dependence on the United States. In addition, all
international agreements conducted by the Egyptian government since May 1971
should be reevaluated.
INVENTORY
GENERAL
Congresses and meetings of the Central Committee
- 1
- Programme of the CPE adopted during its first congress in September 1981, with documents of the congress: Barnamij al-Hizb al-Shuyuci al-Misri min watha'iq al-mu'tamar al-awwal, published by Dar Ibn Khaldun, Beirut in 1981. With extracts of the party programme of the ECP. 1981. 1 folder.
- 2-14
-
Minutes of the November
meeting of the Central Committee held in 1984, with draft proposals, analyses,
resolutions and other documents on strategy and other subjects.
1984.
13 covers.
- 2
- Minutes of the meeting of the Central Committee of the CPE held between 12 and 14 November 1984. November 1984. 66 pages.
- 4
- Draft proposal concerning the reorganization of the party: al-Mushkilat al-tanzimiyya wa kayfa nuwajahu? November 1984.
- 5
- Analysis concerning the social and economic situation of Egypt: hal taqifu Misr cala masharif tawr ijtimaci jadid? 1984.
- 6
- Different quotations concerning the front strategy used in the debate on this issue: Iqtibasat mutafarraqa hawl mas'alat al-jabha fi Misr. November 1984.
- 7
- Remarks concerning the proposal on the front strategy: al-Mulahazat allati waradat ilayna cala warqa al-camal al-jabhawi. November 1984.
- 8
- Collection of remarks concerning the proposal on the reorganization of the party: Majmuca al-mulahazat hawl warqa al-mushkilat al-tanzimiyya. November 1984.
- 9
- Remarks concerning the official analysis of the social and economic situation of Egypt: Mulahazat fi shakl nuqat cala warqa. Hal taqifu Misr cala masharif tawr ijtimaci jadid? November 1984.
- 10
- Comments of different comrades and synopsis of the debates on the four discussion papers submitted during the meetings. November 1984.
- 11
- Results of the discussions concerning the paper on the social and economic situation in Egypt: Hawl warqa Hal taqifu Misr cala masharif tawr ijtimai jadid. `Itar nazari camm natij can al-munaqasha. November 1984.
- 12
- Copy of the discussion of the paper on parasitic capitalism: Mulahazat awwaliyya cala dirasat al-tufayliyya. ( 1984 ).
- 13
- Copy of the debates and resolutions concerning the four papers on party strategy, the political analysis of the position of the communist movement in Egypt and the front, the internal organization of the party and the social and economic situation in Egypt: al-Majmuca al-awla min al-taqarir wa-l-mulahazat cala waraqat al-arbaca al-akhira al-macruda li-l-munaqasha. November 1984.
- 15-19
-
Report of the third
congress, with a new adopted programme, statutes and other documents relating
to the congress.
1992.
5 covers.
- 15
- Report of the third congress of the CPE: al-Mu'tamar al-camm al-thalith li-l-Hizb al-Shuyuci al-Misri. November 1992.
- 16
- Programme of the CPE adopted at the third congress: al-Barnamij al-camm asduruhu al-mu'tamar al-camm al-thalith li-l-Hizb. November 1992.
- 17
- Report on the political strategy of the CPE discussed at the third congress: Khatt siyasi li-l-marahil al-qadima. November 1992.
Resolutions by the Central Committee
- 20-26
-
Resolutions adopted by the
Central Committee of the
Communist Party of Egypt
.
1981-1993.
7 covers.
- 20
- Resolution concerning the strategy of the party taken during the session of the Central Committee of February 1981. Taqrir can camal al-camm 1981 . 16 pages.
- 21
- Resolution concerning the strategy of the party taken during the second session of September 1981. 11 pages.
- 23
- Resolution concerning political activity: Taqrir can nishat al-maktab al-siyasi wa-l-sakritariyya al-markaziyya. July 1986.
- 24
- Resolutions of the Central Committee taken during the session of January 1987 : Qararat al-Lajna al-Markaziyya, dawrat yanayir 1987 .
PARTICULAR
Internal affairs
- 31
- Leaflet explaining the tasks of the Committee for Supervision of the Party: Warqat tcamim hawl `Lajna al-Raqaba al-Hizbiyya'. 1987July . NB. In handwriting and typed versions. 1 cover.
- 32
- Paper concerning the Committee for Supervision of the Party: Warqa tacmim hawl `Lajna al-Raqaba al-Hizbiyya'. 1987July . 1 cover.
- 33
- Pamphlet on the unification of the Communist movement in Egypt: Min ajli fahm sahih wa-waqici li-qadiya wahdat al-shuyuciyyin al-Misriyyin. 28 February 1988. 7 pages. 1 cover..
Analyses and strategy
- 38-49
-
Analyses of the political
and economic situation in Egypt and strategic reports issued by the CPE.
1980-1996.
1 folder and 11 covers.
- 38
- Analysis of the first five years of the existence of the CPE. Hizbuna yamtaliku imkaniyyat bina'hu ka-hizb jamahiri. July 1980. (folder).
- 39
- Analysis of the regional and international position of Egypt: al-tatawwurat fi al-mantiqa wa-l-taghayyurat cala al-saha al-duwwaliyya. [December] 1981.
- 40
- Analysis of the political situation in Egypt: cArad siyasi. Azmat al-Nizam tashtiddu. November 1983.
- 42
- Analysis of the general elections of 1987 : Intikhabat majlis al-Shacb '87. al-ikhta'- al-durus - iqtarahat li-l-mustaqbal. July 1987. 11 pages.
- 43
- Paper concerning the strategy of the party after the general elections of 1987 : Khittat camal cajala li-manatiq al-hizb. July 1987.
- 44
- Analysis of Egypt's internal and international position: al-Tatawwurat al-jadida fi Misr wa-l-watan al-cArabi wa al-calam. July 1988.
- 45
- Report on the strategy of the dictatorship of the proletariat and the national front: Diktaturiyya al-brulitariyya wa-l-jabha al-wataniyya wa-l-dimuqratiyya. Parts I and II. No date.
- 46
- Report on the strategy of the CPE and its priorities: Awwaliyyatuna min ajli: Inqadh Misr min al-tabciyya wa-l-tufayliyya wa-l-fasad wa quwa al-zilam wa-l-irhab wa-l-tatarruf. 1995May . 10 pages.
- 47
- Analysis of the political situation in Egypt: Hawl al-tatawwurat al-siyasiyya al-akhira wa-l-incikasataha cala masar al-tatawwur al-dimuqrati. 17 July 1995.
Communiques
- 50-54
-
Communiques issued by the
Central Committee of the CPE.
1984-1988.
5 covers.
- 51
- Communique of the Central Committee concerning the session of June 1986: Balagh can ijtima al-Lajna al-Markaziyya. Dawrat yunyu 1986. June 1986.
Propaganda
- 55-80
-
Leaflets, pamphlets and
other documents issued by the CPE concerning Egyptian affairs.
1981-1996.
26 covers.
- 56
- Leaflet denouncing repression during Sadat: Bayan min al-Hizb al-Shuyuci al-Misri. Published between 1978 and 1981.
- 59
- Leaflet in support of a workers' strike in Kafr al-Dawwar: Tahya al-Shacb li-intifada Kafr al-Dawwar. October 1984.
- 63
- Leaflet denouncing the government policy of Mubarak following his trip to Washington. 4 July 1986.
- 65
- Pamphlet denouncing government policy: Li-tanhadu jamahir al-shacb li-isqat siyasat al-tabaciyya al-tajwic wa-l-qahr. August 1986.
- 66
- Leaflet concerning the defense of the rights of the Egyptian workers: Tacdilat mucadiyya li-masalih al-cummal. December 1986.
- 68
- Leaflet concerning the results of the general elections and the situation of Egypt:Hajma sharisa la budda min al-isticdad li-muqawamatiha. 12 June 1987.
- 69
- Leaflet denouncing the IMF and the general elections of April 1987. Hajma sharisa la budda min al-isticdad li-muqawamatiha. 12 June 1987.
- 71
- Leaflet against the Egyptian government and its repression of the opposition: Min al-ziyara al-fashila ila qadiya Misr. 27 February 1988.
- 72
- Pamphlet concerning national unity: al-Hifaz cala wahda al-Hizb ahamm wa ashraf mahamma nidaliyya. 4 March, 1989.
- 73
- Leaflet denouncing the national dialogue with the government: al-Hukm mas'ul can ijhad al-hiwar al-watani. 2 June 1994.
- 75
- Leaflet on the situation in Egypt: Mawqifuna min al-tatawwurat al-akhira fi al-bilad. 10 February 1996.
- 76
- Leaflet concerning the privatization of the public sector: Nacm li-islah al-qitac al-amm ...nacm li-muharaba al-fasad. 7 April 1996.
- 81-103
-
Leaflets, pamphlets and
other documents issued by the CPE on foreign affairs.
1981-1996.
23 covers.
- 81
- Pamphlet against Sadat's trip to Jerusalem: lan tamarra al-khiyana.. lan yamarra al-istislam. 22 November 1977. 6 pages.
- 83
- Pamphlet against Camp David: li-tastuqu al-mu'amara al-Amrikiyya al-Isra'iliyya wa li-tartifcu rayyat al-wataniyya al-Misriyya. [September] 1978. 5 pages.
- 88
- Leaflet in support of the resistence of Beirut against the Israeli invasion: fa-la-tatahawwalu kull madinat cArabiyya ila Bayrut samida jadida. August 1982.
- 90
- Leaflet in English entitled `Hands off the struggle of the Sudanese people against the Numeiry puppet regime'. March 1984.
- 92
- Leaflet against the Jordanian-Palestinian accords. Hawl mawqif min al-ittifaq al-Urdani al-Filastini wa ( ) al-Misriyya. March 1985.
- 93
- Pamphlet concerning the Iraq-Iran war: Hawl al-Mustajadat fi al-mawqif al-cArabi wa-l-mahalli. N.d.
- 95
- Leaflet in support of Libya against American aggression. 29 January 1986. Musanada al-shacb al-Biya didda al-tahdid al-Amrikiyya wajib watani. 29 January 1986.
- 99
- Leaflet against Mubarak's speech about the Palestinian intifada: Hadith Mubarak can al-canf. 16 January 1988.
Party periodicals
- 104-106
-
Copies of al-Intisar,
party organ of the CPE.
1980-1996.
3 folders.
- 104
- al-Intisar, 1980 : No. 70; 1981 : special issue on the death of Sadat in October; 1982 : Nos. 81-85; 1983 : Nos. 86, 92-93, 95-98; 1984 : Nos. 99-100, 103-105, 1985 : Nos. 107, 110-111, special on Egypt in March.
Relations with other communist parties
- 114-120
-
Pamphlets and joint
communiques issued with other regional communist parties.
1975-1985.
7 covers.
- 115
- Joint communique of the Egyptian and Lebanese communist parties. Reprinted in German in Horizont, 22 October 1975, No. 44.
- 116
- Joint communique issued by the Egyptian and the Sudanese Communist parties. 28 November 1980. 5 pages.
- 117
- Pamphlet issued in support of the Sudanese Communist Party: cAn nidal al-shacb al-Sudani... March 1984.
- 118
- Joint communique of the Egyptian and Syrian Communist Parties: Bayan mushtarak min al-Hizb al-Shuyuci al-Misri wa-l-Hizb al-Shuyuci al-Suri. 28 February 1985. 5 pages.
Union of Democratic Egyptian Youth (UDEY)
- 122
- Draft programme and statutes of the youth organization of the CPE, the Union of Democratic Egyptian Youth (UDEY) : Mashruc barnamij wa la'iha Ittihad al-Shabab al-Dimuqrati al-Misri. N.d. 14 pages. N.d. 1 cover.
- 123-132
-
Leaflets, pamphlets and
other documents issued by UDEY.
1978-1980 and n.d.
10 covers.
- 127
- Pamphlet denouncing the repression by Sadat of the opposition: li-kayla la yaflit al-nizam al-diktaturi al-kha'in min ghadba al-shacb. 11 September 1981.
- 129
- Joint statement of the student organization of the CPE and the Democratic Arab Students in Great Britain. 25 September 1981.
Relations with other youth organizations
- 133
- Statements and letters in English, French and Spanish issued by the World Federation of Democratic Youth in support of UDEY. 1977 and 1981. 1 cover.
- 134
- Translation of an open letter addressed to the Egyptian ambassador written by the International Greek-Arab Union, with Greek newspaper clippings denouncing Sadat's repressive measures. 1981. 1 cover.
- 135
- Copy of the organ of the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) , with other publications of the WFDY. 1983-1984. 1 folder.
DOCUMENTATION
- 140-142
- Publications by the Hizb al-cUmmal al-Shuyuci al-Misri (The Egyptian Workers'Party) . 1978-1979 and n.d. 3 covers.
- 143
- Leaflets, pamphlets and programmes of the Tagammuc Party issued during the general elections of 1984. 1984.
- 144
- Pamphlet of the youth organization of the Tagammuc Party in commemoration of the student revolt of 1935: cId Thawra al-Shabab. 26 November 1978.
- 145
- Programme of the Arab youth organization: Lajna al-Tansiq bayn al-Munazzamat al-shababiyya wa-l-Tullabiyya al-cArabiyya fi al-Jaza'ir. 22 November 1979.
- 146-148
-
Leaflets, pamphlets,
communiques and reports issued by different Palestinian liberation
organizations.
1982-1986.
3 folders.
- 146
-
Leaflets, pamphlets and
communiques issued by
Fatah
,
the Popular Front
for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
,
the Palestinian
Communist Party
and other organizations relating to the split within
the
Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)
in 1983-1984
in the North of Lebanon, the so-called Abu Musa affair.
1983-1984.
NB. Probably collected by a delegation of the ECP in Beirut.
- 149-164
-
Newspaper clippings on
different Egyptian topics.
1975-1985.
24 folders and 2 covers.
- 151
- Newspaper clippings concerning youth and student affairs in Egypt in Egyptian newspapers. (cover).
- 152
- Newspaper clippings concerning youth ans student affairs in Egypt in Egyptian newspapers. (cover).
- 153
- Clippings of Egyptian daily newspapers and party papers on political parties in Egypt, with several issues of Tariq al-Shacb of the Iraqi Communist Party. 1983-1984.
- 165
- Typed transcript of an article published in the Canadian Tribune and The Daily World . 19 February 1984. 1 folder.