Showing Egypt: The Moment of Change by Rabab El Mahdi

Egypt is at the axis of the Arab world. It has the largest population, the biggest industrial economy and the longest tradition of modern political activity, and so exercises profound influence across the region. But there have been few attempts to understand contemporary Egyptian society, in particular the growing internal pressure for change and its implications for the Middle East and the wider world.
This book addresses the turmoil created by neoliberal economic policies, the increasingly fragile nature of the authoritarian regime, the influence of movements for democratic opening and popular participation, and the impact of Islamism. The contributors argue that Egypt has entered a period of instability, during which the ‘low-intensity democracy’ of the Mubarak regime faces many challenges. This timely book assesses the capacity of the state to resist the forces of change, and the new social movements’ ability to realise their aims.