Arab nationalism (
al-Qawmiyya al-`arabiyya) is a
nationalist ideology celebrating the glories of Arab civilization, the
language and literature of the
Arabs, calling for rejuvenation and
political union in the
Arab world. Its central premise is that the peoples of the Arab world, from the
Atlantic Ocean to the
Arabian Sea, constitute one nation bound together by common linguistic, cultural, religious, and historical heritage. One of the primary goals of Arab nationalism is the end of
Western influence in the Arab world, seen as a "nemesis" of Arab strength, and the removal of those Arab governments considered to be dependent upon Western power. It rose to prominence with the
weakening and defeat of the
Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century and declined after the defeat of the Arab armies in the
Six-Day War.