Egypt: Security, Political, and Islamist Challenges
Abstract
This monograph approaches three issues in contemporary Egypt: failures of governance and political development, the continued strength of Islamism, and counterterrorism. Egypt is a major power and political force in the Middle East, as well as a recipient of significant amounts of U.S. aid for military and economic purposes. It is triply important to American interests in the region as a participant in an important peace treaty and accords with Israel, in the ongoing Global War on Terror, and in its own transition to a more democratic and prosperous nation. In this monograph, Dr. Sherifa Zuhur argues that the Egyptian government's efforts to retain tight control over the political landscape is impeding the democratization process. In the name of antiterrorism, these efforts may not put an end to sporadic outbreaks of militant violence which reemerged after the 1999 truce with the larger of these radical groups. The long-protested official state of emergency which grants the Egyptian government extraordinary powers has been extended, and that action required constitutional amendments which were recently approved by referendum. These will be bolstered by a new antiterrorism law. The political opposition has protested these actions, which undo some of the progress previously made with judicial supervision of elections, and prohibit the largest Islamist organization, the Muslim Brotherhood, from transitioning into a legal political party. As a background for understanding these events, Dr. Zuhur explains the nature of problems inherent in Egypt's political and economic development, and how these relate to the various militant Islamist movements emerging within it. This explanation and the current dilemma challenge some of the typical recommendations that are seen in discussions of the "failing" or "failed state" models.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA472938
Entities
People
- Sherifa Zuhur
Organizations
- United States Army War College