Causes of the failure of the Urabi Revolution

07Causes of the failure of the Urabi Revolution

• Division within the nation between the camp supporting Urabi and the camp supporting Khedive Tawfiq and the Turkish–Circassian elements — caused by the Ottoman sultan's firman of disobedience against Urabi; this let the English exploit the contradictions.
• The mixing of two aims: getting rid of foreign intervention and challenging the Khedive's authority. The elements that wanted the foreigners gone did not at the same time want to challenge the Khedive as the lawful holder of authority — so the unity of the national movement fragmented.
• The appearance of defeatist elements among the nationalists who urged compliance with the Khedive's and the English wishes and stopping the revolution — some even asked the English to let Urabi leave the country.
• The imbalance of military power between the two sides, and the collusion of the foreign Suez Canal Company's administration with the British fleet's command, facilitating its entry into the Canal's waters.
• The hostility of the great European states to any national revolution that would change the balance of power and the established rule of absolute monarchies.