The New Egypt: Socio-political Dynamics and the Prospects of the Transition to Democracy

Abstract

The February 11, 2011 victory of pro-democracy forces has ushered in great hopes for actual political and social changes in Egypt. The military-led long authoritarian rule has come to an end, and Egypt has stepped in a new era of transition to democracy. This paper probes the prospects of democratic transformation in Egypt in light of its unique pre and postrevolutionary social and political dynamics. It argues that Egypt's transition to democracy largely depends on the chemistry of post-revolutionary socio-political dynamics and how this dynamics keeps unfolding.