According to Cleveland, the concept of 'upheaval and renewal' can be considered a common feature for Middle Eastern countries in the 1970s. After the formation of the independent states, there was a general tendency in the Arab republics to consolidate their power. This essay aims to compare and contrast this process in Egypt and Syria starting from 1970, the year in which both countries saw the coming to power of new leaders, Anwar Sadat and Hafiz Al-Asad, and a subsequent change in policies of the previous regime. Considering the lack of space and the complexity of the issue, attention will focus only on the most obvious aspects of the consolidation of authoritarian power under these two leaders, without going into too much detail. The essay will first address the implementation of the “corrective revolution” in both countries, then the use of the party and patronage system to ensure loyalty to the regime, the relationship with the military and the relationship with religious groups. Finally, attention will be focused on Al-Asad's personality cult and Egypt's use of elections as opposing ways to legitimize the regime. In 1970 the new leaders in Syria and Egypt faced the problem of gaining support from society. Egyptian President Sadat was deemed unworthy of taking Nasser's place, both by members of the regime and by other Arab countries. Nasser's regime was beginning to crumble and institutions became possible rivals for the president. The one-party system left no room for any opposition and security and the army were the protagonists on the political scene. To consolidate his authoritarian power, Sadat realized that he needed to cultivate...... middle of paper ......the modern Middle East, 402.Haydemann, Authoritarianism in Syria, 208.Cook, The Stuggle for Egypt , 140.Haydemann, Authoritarianism in Syria, 208.Haydemann, Authoritarianism in Syria, 207-208.Shmuel Bar, 'Bashar's Syria: The regime and its strategic worldview', Comparative Strategy, vol. 25, Iss. 5, 2006, 358. Robert B. Betts, 'The Struggle for Power in Syria: Politics and Society under Assad and the Ba'th Party', Middle East Policy 5(2) (1997), 204-206 (05/03 /2014).Cleveland, A History of the Modern Middle East, 405.Brown, 'The Broad State of Egypt Reassembles Itself', unpaged. Cook, The Struggle for Egypt, 124.Cook, The Struggle for Egypt, 154.Betts, 'The Struggle for Power in Syria', 125.Bar, 'Bashar's Syria', 354. Bar, ' Bashar's Syria, 355.Cook, The fight for Egypt, 173.