MENASource

Economic Opportunity: A Constitutional Right?

By Hoda Youssef

Debates over the drafting of Egypt’s next constitution have been heavily dominated by proposals for restructuring the political system. But political reform alone cannot guarantee the emergence of a strong and stable democracy, and economic concerns should also be at the core of discussions over the future of Egypt’s legal framework. Adam Smith had it […]

The Case for a Mixed Parliamentary System

By Khaled Saad

With Egypt’s marathon parliamentary electoral process now concluded, the country’s political forces are already debating how the soon-to-be drafted constitution should restructure the political system and recalibrate the balance of powers between the legislative and executive branches. Driving debates over the future of the political system are the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), […]

Top News: Parliament Drops Demand for Cabinet Reshuffle

By Mara Revkin

Plans to issue a vote of no-confidence in Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri’s government – initially spearheaded by the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Parity – appear to have been dropped following talks with the SCAF, in which participants including Parliamentary Speaker Saad al-Katatny agreed on the need for stability ahead of the presidential election.

Top News: Fayza Aboul Naga: Egypt Can Do Without US Aid

By Mara Revkin

International Cooperation Minister Fayza Aboul Naga told the People’s Assembly Foreign Relations Committee that foreign embassies had been financing organizations and individuals to carry out unlawful activities in Egypt and offering "cash" directly "from hand to hand.” Naga also stated that Egypt can do without U.S economic assistance, although she did not comment on the […]

The Unwritten Deals of Egypt’s Presidential Election / الصفقات غير المكتوبة للانتخابات الرئاسية المصرية

By Magdy Samaan

Observers of Egypt’s upcoming presidential election are quickly tuning into rumors of unwritten deals among various players in the political game.  This behind-the-scenes bargaining is driving two key trends: 1) the fact that most presidential candidates are not affiliated with the leading political parties; and 2) consensus among Islamist forces against backing an Islamist candidate. […]

Top News: Parliament Calls for Vote to End Military Aid

By Mara Revkin

Egyptian Women: What Have They Gained?

By Tarek Radwan

Before International Women’s Day (IWD) 2012 rapidly fades from memory and policy-makers return to other problems faced in their respective countries, a look at how this day played out in Egypt may shed some light on the massive challenges Egyptian women will face in the coming years. Recent events indicate that activists may find the […]

Top News: Egyptian Foreign Minister Says U.S. Aid Not “Eternal”

By Mara Revkin

Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr said U.S. assistance to Egypt is not “eternal” and “distorts the nature of bilateral relations” between the two countries. “The relations should work in favor of Washington and Cairo, and not in favor of one direction; therefore, we have to build relations anew between the two sides,” he said.

Revolutionary Children: Egypt’s Last Best Hope

By Sara Ashour

Everyone knows that the January uprising was heavily driven by youth, but one demographic group that has been almost entirely overlooked in analysis of the transition is Egypt’s youngest generation, the children of the revolution.  The last twelve months have been a transformative, inspiring and at times traumatic experience for Egyptian children, who will inherit […]

Egypt’s NGO Crisis: Political Theater Preventing Democratic Progress

By Ahmed Morsy

Hopes were high that the second session of the NGO trial, held on March 8, would yield a resolution to the worst crisis in US-Egypt relations since the 1967 war. Robert Becker, the only indicted American who did not choose to leave the country after the travel ban was lifted, said he stayed to stand […]