Egypt
Fundamental information for understanding the state of political reform in Egypt
Prospects for Political Reform
» Egypt Update: The Latest
Joshua Muravchik writes in the Wall Street Journal about how the Obama administration is backing off of democracy promotion in Egypt, distancing itself from the previous administration’s efforts.
An article in the Washington Post considers Egyptian perspectives on the current post-election unrest in Iran as Egypt looks towards its own election in 2011.
Saad Eddin Ibrahim is maintaining his media presence with an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, where he writes about “The Mideast’s New Spring of Freedom.” I would agree that “[Obama] and his advisers should resist overreacting to the mistakes of the Bush administration by backtracking on democracy promotion,” but I think that Ibrahim overestimates the “youth’s use of information technology,” particularly in the case of Egypt. What may be working for Iran may not work in Egypt, especially when keeping in mind the recent April 6th Youth Movement, and their very limited success in using online activism to bring people to the streets.
» From The POMED Wire
Failed State Index Measures Progress for Iraq; Predicts Failure in Yemen, Pakistan
[Jul 2] Foreign Policy has released its 2009 annual Failed States Index, which is a timely analysis of how a “virulent economic crisis, countless natural disasters,…
Egyptian Lawyer Reacts to Iran
[Jul 2] Arab and regional opinions of the Iranian situation have been noticeably scant in media coverage, although the Washington Post reported last week that…
more »
The State of Political Reform
Political Parties and Participation
- Adrift on the Nile: The Limits of Opposition in Egypt
Foreign Affairs, March/April 2009 - Zealous Democrats: Islamism and Democracy in Egypt, Indonesia and Turkey
Lowy Institute for International Policy, October 2008 - Egypt's Muslim Brothers: Confrontation or Integration
International Crisis Group, June 2008 - more »
Human Rights
- Egypt: Amnesty International Report 2009
Amnesty International, 2009 - Recommendations on Human Rights in Egypt
International Federation for Human Rights, April 2009 - 2008 Human Rights Report: Egypt
US Department of State, 2008 - more »
Elections
- Will the Muslim Brotherhood Run in 2010?
Arab Reform Bulletin, May 2009 - Interview with Ayman Nour on Egypt's Elections
Council on Foreign Relations, February 2009 - Electoral and Social Tensions Spike in Egypt
Washington Institute on Near East Policy, April 2008 - more »
Press Freedom
- Freedom on the Net
Freedom House, March 2009 - Internet Enemies
Reporters Without Borders, 2009 - 10 Worst Countries to be a Blogger
Committee to Protect Journalists, 2009 - more »
Political Institutions
- NGO Bill Imperils Civil Society Funding
Arab Reform Bulletin, February 2009 - Constraints on the promotion of the rule of law in Egypt: insights from the 2005 judges’ revolt
Democratization, February 2009 - The Political Economy of Reform in Egypt: Understanding the Role of Institutions
Carnegie Endowment, October 2007 - more »
U.S. Democracy Promotion Policy
Legislation
- For an overview of U.S. legislation relating to political reform in Egypt, see the Congressional Policy and Foreign Assistance section of the Egypt backgrounder
- H.R. 2764 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008
(Summary | Full Text | POMED Analysis) - H.R.2977: Egyptian Counterterrorism and Political Reform Act, 2007
(Summary | Full Text | POMED Analysis) - H.R. 2601 [109th]: Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007
(Summary | Full Text)
Congressional Hearings
- Hearing of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations: Appointment of Three Ambassadors
including Margaret Scobey for Egypt, February 6, 2008
(Text of Amb. Scobey’s statement | POMED Summary) - Hearing of the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight: “Ideals vs. Reality in Human Rights and US Foreign Policy: the Cases of Azerbaijan, Cuba and Egypt,” July 12, 2007
(Transcript | POMED Summary)
Assistance Programs
- USAID Democracy and Governance Program
Annual Program Statement 2008 - MEPI in Egypt
The Middle East Partnership Initiative regional website - U.S. Foreign Assistance to the Middle East: Historical Background, Recent Trends, and the FY2008 Request
Congressional Research Service, July 2007
Public Statements
Secretary Hillary Clinton, Interview With Randa Aboul Azem of Al Arabiya, 3/2/2009:
QUESTION: On another issue, the State Department issued a report about criticizing the human rights record of Egypt. And what kind of – in order for Egypt to enhance its record, what do you recommend or ask Egypt to do?
SECRETARY CLINTON: We issue these reports on every country. We consider Egypt to be a friend and we engage in very forthright conversations with our friends. And so we hope that it will be taken in the spirit in which it is offered, that we all have room for improvement. The United States, as you have seen under our new President, is moving to remedy some of the problems that we have had. We view human rights as very important. It’s central to our value system and to our foreign policy, and so we want to enlist others to make progress.
Acting Deputy State Department Spokesman Gordon Duguid, Daily Press Briefing, 1/19/2009:
“We welcome the release of Ayman Nour, especially as it’s been done on medical grounds, and we view this as a positive step by the Egyptian authorities. The United States has called for this release many times in the past, and therefore, it is a good and positive move.”
President Barack Obama, Inaugural Address, 1/20/2009: “To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society’s ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”
