Hosni Mubarak and the Future of Democracy in Egypt

As Mubarak's regimenearing its end becomes a strong possibility, many pressures, both foreign and domestic, are coming to bear on Egypt to bring democratic reforms to this struggling country. In The Mubarak Leadership and Future of Democracy in Egypt, Alaa Al-Din Arafat studies this new era and the obstacles that must be overcome. The Egyptian revolution of 2011 captivated the world and served as the focal point of the regional uprisings that have collectively come to be known as the Arab Spring. Even now the world waits to see whether the country's elections will aid the progress of liberal democracy or resurgent Islamism. In this essential study, Egyptian scholar Alaa Al-Din Arafat provides a comprehensive look at the political, diplomatic, religious, and socioeconomic factors that were at play in the time leading up to the protests that led to the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. This edition includes a new foreword that reflects on the developments of the last year, providing valuable new context and exploring possible future outcomes Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Introduction: Chronic Survival....Pages 1-8 It Just Looks Like a Party....Pages 9-19 Addicted to Hegemony....Pages 21-42 The Tug of War....Pages 43-59 The Business of Politics....Pages 61-85 Keeping Reform at Bay....Pages 87-103 The Illusion of Reform....Pages 105-122 The Tipping Starts....Pages 123-136 Scaling the Eight Walls....Pages 137-155 On the Bright Side....Pages 157-170 Is Islam the Solution?....Pages 171-184 Epilogue: Succession or Success?....Pages 185-202 Back Matter....Pages 203-269