Egypt- A Mirage of Democracy

Conflicts in Middle East

Why is Middle East in turmoil?• Strategic Location• Colonial powers involved in Middle

East for many years• Disunity among Middle east

countries encouraged other states to intervene

• Formation of a Jewish state – Israel• Availability of Oil• Ethnic Conflict • Desire for Democracy

Historical Background•Egypt was part of Ottoman Empire

•From 1882 to 1952, Egypt was a British colony. Earlier even the French were involved in Egypt.

•Egypt was granted semi-independence in 1936

•In 1952, Muhammad Najuib staged a military coup by abolishing monarchy and proclaiming himself the first President of Egypt.

• In 1954, he signed an agreement with the British by which British troops were to evacuate the Suez Canal Zone.

Presidents of Egypt

Muhammad Najuib(1953)

Colonel Nasser (1956)

Anwar Sadat(1970)

Hosni Mubarak

(1981)

Muhammad Morsi(2012)

Synopsis of our paperEgypt – Israel Conflicts

Nile Water Dispute

Arab Spring : Mubarak to Morsi

Current Scenario

Perspective: Fading away of the Arab Spring in Egypt.

Egypt – Israel wars

Arab-Israel War 1948

Suez war 1956

The Six – Day War 1967

Yom Kippur War 1973

President Colonel Nasser – emerged as the leader of Arab nationalism after the Suez War 1956

Suez war 1956

Six-Day War 1967

Camp David Agreement

• The state of war between Egypt and Israel ended

• Israel promised to withdraw its troops from Sinai

• Israel ships could use Suez Canal

Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and USA President Jimmy Carter (acting as mediator)

Nile water dispute

Arab Spring

Hosni Mubarak (1981-2011)

Causes for Mubarak’s ouster• Neo-liberal policies favoured the wealthy at the expense of

the middle class and poor

• Kefaya movement since 2004 – a catalyst in bringing people onto the streets to protest

• Parliamentary elections (November 2010) were accused to be rigged.

• Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution ignited the spark.

• Emergency laws imposed since 30 years, heavy-handed security state system, unaccountable government

Tahrir Square Protest-25 Jan 2011

Mubarak resigns

Transition Period: Mubarak to Morsi• Mubarak handed power to the SCAF. His

National Democratic Party (NDP) was dissolved.

• The parliamentary elections in November 2011 took precedence over convening of constituent assembly

• Islamists (MB, Salafists etc.) won ¾th seats

• In the presidential elections, MB candidate Muhammad Morsi won more than 50% due to support from others

Constitution Compromised• Workers, women, Coptic Christians

etc. found no place in the constitution making process

• Constitution pushed through a referendum with a mere 30% participation

• Two dozen members of the constitution making body had resigned in protest

• Army’s prerogatives were kept intact

Controversial Decisions• Guaranteed that Hamas will no more

launch any rockets into Israel.

• Lowered retirement age for judges and appointed his own men.

• Formed a fully Ikhwan (MB) cabinet

• Appeased IMF and curbed role of sector

• Arrogated supreme legislative authority resulting in judiciary having no rights to challenge his executive decree

Interim Government• A transitional technocratic government

is formed till the elections.

• Pro-Morsi supporters dealt in execution style – many arrested.

• GCC countries offer 12 billion dollars aid after USA threatens to withdraw military aid.

• They promised to hold elections in a couple of months.

Acting President Adly Mansour

The Manipulative Shrew: General Al Sisi

“Men may come and men may go, but I go on forever”

-Alfred Lord Tennyson

Back to square one• Nile water dispute may rise with the settlement of civil

war in South Sudan.

• Less chances of Camp David Agreement being violated in near future.

• Directionless mass movement since they did not demand parliamentary election post-Mubarak ,they demanded the postponement of elections till stability.

On a positive note…

REFERENCES• Uncertain in EGYPT:Atul Aneja ,frontline septemper 30,2013• Revolution or Restoration :Aijaz Ahmed,Frontline,septemper 20,2013• Storm clouds by Jhon Cherian ,frontline September 20,2013• Showdown In Cairo,September 6,2013,frontline• Loopholes Aplently in EU Arms Ban On Egypt By Andrew Rettman,2011• Various Articles By Evan Hill• Back To square One,Hindustan Times,30th december 2013• Paper on egyptian revolution 2011 by Khaled Whaba• Cairo Calling,Frontline,February 8,2013• Islamist Riposte,Frontline,August 9,2013• Whose Nile is it ,EPW,July 12,2013• Profile On general Fatten Al SiSi ,BBC website• Modern world History ,Norman Lowe• History of Modern Europe and World,by L.Mukherjee• Contemporary West Asia,By Anwar Alam

Made By

• Aishwarya Sawarna

• Prathmesh Bhosle

• Rohan Kamble

THANK YOU!!!