Crisis in Egypt
Josh Pace
AP World History P-4
In February 2011 long-serving Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarack resigned due to
huge anti-government demonstrations. These uprisings were the result of many
years of a repressive regime. During Mubarack’s rein political dissent was
suppressed, the security forces were very brutal in their application of the law, and
there was widespread corruption. This climate was the result of Emergency Law
that was implemented after the 1967 Six Day War. This Emergency Law remained
in effect until Mubarack resigned, except for one 18-month period in 1981. Since the
threat of terrorism was used as an excuse to continue the Emergency Law, this
allowed Mubarack to suppress other political parties, namely the Islamist Muslim
Brotherhood.
The Egyptian population was encouraged by the success from the protests that
over threw the leader of Tunisia. From this success they started anti government
demonstrations in January 2011. When Mubarack did resign he handed power over
to the military. The military promised a rapid transition to democracy. The Military
formed the Supreme Council of Armed Forces to run the Egyptian government until
elections could be held. However, the protests continued since the Egyptian
population felt that the Supreme Council was not moving fast enough to dismantle
the old and entrenched polices of the former regime.
This road to democracy has been very rocky. The transition from Mubarack to
the new government has further weakened the government’s ability to manage the
already economic, social and foreign policy challenges that are in Egypt. There are
two major parties vying for power, one group is the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood.
This political group wants to follow the tradition Muslim practices, while the other
group is more democratic and liberal. The military finally allowed elections in
December 2011 and January 2012. After those elections the newly elected People’s
Assembly received from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces the power of
legislative authority. However, an administrative court suspended the
Constitutional Assembly tasked with creating a new Constitution. In May of 2012,
the first Presidential elections were held. Next, The Egyptian Supreme
Constitutional Court found that the 2011 Parliamentary Elections were invalid. The
consequences of this were that Parliament was dissolved and the Supreme Council
of the Armed Forces resumed authority. The second round of Presidential Elections
took place in June of 2012 where Muhammad Morsi the leader of the Islamist
Muslim Brotherhood won. Protests continued under Morsi even though he was
elected President.
In November 2012 President Morsi used declarations protecting his actions from
challenge and allowed him to take any measure necessary to protect the Revolution.
This action was critized by Egypt’s Constitution Party because they felt strict Islamic
practices verses more democratic and liberal ideas would prevail. Morsi’s actions
led to massive protests in Egypt, once again. The military sided with the protesters
against Morsi and against the influence of the Islamic Muslim Brotherhood on
Egyptian politics, so they ousted Muhamad Morsi on July 3rd 2013 through a Military
Coup. Currently in Egypt the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces appointed a
civilian named Adly Mansour as interim President.
Works Cited
BBC News. BBC, 08 May 2013. Web. 04 Aug. 2013.
Cook, Steven A. "Political Instability in Egypt." Council on Foreign Relations. Council
on Foreign Relations, 8 Aug. 2009. Web. 04 Aug. 2013.
Manfreda, Primoz. "Current Situation in Egypt." About.com. About, n.d. Web. 25 July
2013.