With the election of former defense minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to the presidency of Egypt, many analysts worry about the effect of such a regressive development on the other Arab transitioning countries throughout the region. The removal of Mohammed Morsi, the backlash against Islamists, and the decidedly anti-democratic climate that has enveloped Egypt has and will continue to shape policies of those countries struggling with similar challenges.

In North Africa, Lara Talverdian, assistant director for research for the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center with a focus on North Africa, argues that developments in Egypt over the past year threaten to undermine consensus-building and the integrity of political processes in Libya and Tunisia.