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Egypt’s Crowd-Democracy: As Representative Democracy Failed to Deliver, People Resorted to Alternatives

By Wael Nawara

With the removal of former president, Mohamed Morsi, from power, Egypt’s revolutionary youth have bristled against the labeling of his ouster as a ‘coup.’ Over months, tens of thousands of volunteers labored to collect 22 million signatures demanding that Morsi call for early presidential elections. With their demands ignored, Tamarod escalating its call to protest, […]

This Week in Egypt – July 19, 2013

By Amira Mikhail

Catch up on the latest out of Egypt every week, with analysis, news updates, photos, videos, and more.

Top News: Proposed US House Bill Keeps Egypt Military Aid at $1.3 Billion

Leaders of the US House of Representatives panel in charge of aid to Egypt proposed on Thursday that military aid be kept at $1.3 billion next year, subject to conditions including the government planning and holding elections.

Top News: Syria’s Assad May Cling On, Britain Will Not Arm Rebels – Sources

Syria: Losing The Narrative

By Frederic C. Hof

Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee on July 17, 2013, I was struck by the relatively large number of members, Republicans and Democrats alike, who volunteered variations on the following theme: "Every time the United States sticks its nose into the Middle East it gets bloodied; the battle in Syria is between a brutal […]

Key Positions in Beblawi’s Interim Government

By Amira Mikhail

Egypt’s interim cabinet was sworn in on Tuesday, July 16. There are three women in the interim cabinet of thirty-four ministries, one of whom is Christian. Two other ministers are Christian, while most notably, no Islamists were included in the lineup. While the Salafi Nour Party was offered a few posts, it announced that it […]

Point/Counterpoint: On the Question of US Aid, Who Gains the Most?

By Mahmoud Salem and Tarek Radwan

On the question of US aid to Egypt, who stands to gain the most – the United States or Egypt? Tarek Radwan, associate director at the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, and Mahmoud Salem, an Egyptian blogger and activist, share their points of view. 

Top News: United States Suggests Egyptian Military May Have Averted Civil War

Egypt may have avoided a civil war this month, United States Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday, saying this was one factor to weigh as Washington decides whether to cut off most US aid to the Arab nation. Kerry repeated the US position that it has not yet made any decision, saying it would take […]

Top News: Libya Minority Groups Say Will Boycott Constitution Vote

Three Libyan ethnic minorities announced on Wednesday they would boycott an election of a committee to draft a new constitution, the first blow to a democratic process supposed to decide what political system the country will adopt.