In 1967MalcolmH. Kerr, a leading American scholar on theMiddle East, analysed the inter-Arab system and inter-Arab dynamics in the Middle East during the 1950s and 1960s.1 Kerr described these dynamics as unfolding under the influence of the Cold War and, to a large extent, even imitating the patterns of conduct and dynamics dictated by that Cold War, which saw the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies confronting each other all over the world. Kerr argued that just as the world-at-large was divided into two camps so, too, was the Middle East. The radical, revolutionary camp, under the influence of the Soviet Union, was faced by a conservative, moderate, and consequently pro-Western grouping backed by the United States. According to Kerr, the struggle for power in the Middle East during the 1950s and 1960s was an evenly balanced contest between two camps of approximately equal strength that maintained a kind of balance of terror. However, the situation at the time appeared rather differently. To the outside observer, it appeared as if the radical and revolutionary camp had the upper hand. The region seemed to be dominated by the radically nationalistic pan-Arab worldview as expressed by its most prominent and popular exponent, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser.2.
Mwaka 1967 Malcolm H. "Kerr, msomi mashuhuri wa Mashariki ya Kati, alichunguza mfumo wa Kiarabu na nguvu za Kiarabu katika Mashariki ya Kati wakati wa miaka ya 1950 na 1960 na kuelezea nguvu hizi kama ""kufunuliwa chini ya ushawishi wa Vita Baridi na, kwa kiasi kikubwa, hata kuiga mifumo ya mwenendo na nguvu zilizowekwa na Vita Baridi, ambayo iliona Marekani na Umoja wa Sovieti na washirika wao wakikabiliana kila mmoja duniani kote.""" Kerr alisisitiza kwamba kama vile ulimwengu kwa ujumla ulivyogawanywa katika kambi mbili ndivyo ilivyo Mashariki ya Kati. Kambi ya mapinduzi yenye msimamo mkali, iliyokuwa chini ya uvutano wa Muungano wa Sovieti, ilikabiliwa na kikundi cha kihafidhina, cha wastani, na kwa hiyo cha kuunga mkono Magharibi kilichoungwa mkono na Marekani. Kerr anasema mapambano ya nguvu katika Mashariki ya Kati katika miaka ya 1950 na 1960 yalikuwa ni mapambano ya usawa kati ya makambi mawili yenye nguvu sawa ambayo yalihifadhi usawa wa kigaidi. Hata hivyo, hali wakati huo ilionekana kuwa tofauti kabisa. Kwa mtazamaji wa nje, ilionekana kana kwamba kambi ya wakali na wa mapinduzi ilikuwa na nguvu zaidi. Mkoa huo ulionekana kutawaliwa na mtazamo wa kimataifa wa Kiarabu ulioonyeshwa na mtangazaji wake mashuhuri na maarufu, Rais wa Misri Gamal Abdel Nasser.