Egypt At The Crossroads

Reprint. Originally published: Washington, DC: National Defense University Press, 1999.

On February 1, 2011, President Obama stated that a transition process in Egypt ''should result in a government that is not only grounded in democratic principles but is also responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people.''the Egyptian Government's treatment of pro-democracy NGOs is in direct contradiction with the democratic principles and is not responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people. In fact, the Egyptian Government's politically motivated treatment of these NGOs is actually worse than the way they were treated by the Mubarak regime.

This is the fourth volume of proceedings of the workgroup Egypt and Austria, which has recently developed into Egypt and Central Europe. The volume includes contributions on Austrian migrations to Egypt and vice versa, on the political as well as economic relations within the Eastern Mediterranean during the 19th century and there is also a special section devoted to the intercultural (mis-)representations in arts. Two articles remind us of the activities and literary work of Alois Musil, the antipode of Lawrence of Arabia. Contributions are in English, some in German. With this volume, Egypt and Austria turns into a regular series.

Papers present research from different regions ranging from ancient Mauritania, through Africa, Egypt, Cyprus, Palestine, Syria, as well as sites in Crimea and Georgia. Topics include: topography, architecture, interiors and décor, religious syncretism, the importance of ancient texts, pottery studies and conservation.

Egypt lies at a crossroads between Africa, Asia, and Europe and is the largest country in the Middle East. Egypt's other geographical feature is its deserts. The Nile helped in the cultivation of crops, while the deserts helped keep Egypt isolated. This work explores the people, culture, history, environment, economy, and government of Egypt.

In the light of the escalation of sectarian tensions during and after Mubarak's reign, the predicament of the Arab world's largest religious minority, the Copts, has come to the forefront. This book poses such questions as why there has been a mass exodus of Copts from Egypt, and how this relates to other religious minorities in the Arab region; why it is that sectarian violence increased during and after the Egyptian revolution, which epitomized the highest degree of national unity since 1919; and how the new configuration of power has influenced the extent to which a vision of a political order is being based on the principles of inclusive democracy. The book examines the relations among the state, the church, Coptic citizenry, and civil and political societies against the backdrop of the increasing diversification of actors, the change of political leadership in the country, and the transformations occurring in the region. An informative historical background is provided, and new fieldwork and statistical data inform a thoughtful exploration of what it takes to build an inclusive democracy in post-Mubarak Egypt.

Egyptian Foreign Policy from Mubarak to Morsi explores an area rarely touched upon by researchers, the relationship between regime security and the national interest. Concentrating on Egyptian foreign policy under President Hosni Mubarak, this book analyses how it was used to bolster his internal hold on power. In considering Egyptian foreign policy, two central case studies are examined. Firstly, Egypt’s reluctance to re-establish diplomatic ties with Iran, and secondly, Egypt’s response to the efforts of the Bush administration in promoting political reform in the Middle East. When examining these case studies the impact of different societal factors on decision-making is taken into consideration, highlighting the role of business groups and the security apparatus in foreign policy decision-making. Concluding with a discussion of Egypt's foreign policy in the first year of Mohamed Morsi's rule, and arguing that it has departed little from Mubarak's policy, this book is a vital resource for anyone interested in contemporary Egyptian politics, Middle East Studies and International Relations more broadly.