Masters Thesis

Democratic transition in Egypt: between success and failure

The uprising of 2011 that toppled President Hosni Mubarak was an incredible achievement for the Egyptians. Under Mubarak, Egypt was a key regional ally of Washington, a reliable peace partner for Israel, and an island of stability in a turbulent Middle East. But Mubarak was also an authoritarian, whose ruling party presided over an increasingly repressive state apparatus at home. With Mubarak gone, Egyptian people have a chance to chart their own course. However, almost 4 years has passed and it's not clear that Egypt is headed for democracy. This paper seeks to demonstrate that democratic transition failed because Egyptians preferred political stability and the hope of economic growth under a strong ruler rather than fight for democracy. This paper will also at the differences between an "effective" government under A1 Sisi versus more "legitimate" government under Morsi in fulfilling the basic needs for Egyptians. This research paper will also look at structural factors in Egypt that create an environment adaptable to one government over the other.

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