The revolution in Egypt
A reading guide
Danielle Pletka, Michael Rubin | American Enterprise Institute
July 03, 2013

Reuters

Protesters against Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi wave national flags in Tahrir Square in Cairo July 3, 2013.

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Two and a half years after the first stirrings of the Arab Spring, Egypt is once again in the throes of a revolution. Mere days after long-simmering resentments about food shortages, long gas lines, and soaring unemployment fueled massive public protests against the ruling Muslim Brotherhood, the Egyptian military acted on its ultimatum to oust President Mohamed Morsi, suspend the constitution, and install an interim government. Although the outcome is far from clear, renewed upheaval in the world’s most populous Arab country is bound to have enormous consequences for the broader Middle East and for U.S. interests in the region.

To help you navigate the events unfolding in Egypt, we offer these selected readings and multimedia from AEI's Foreign and Defense Policy team:

MUST-READ ARTICLES

► When coups advance democracy, Michael Rubin, July 7, 2013

"Morsi's overthrow was a step forward for true representative government — one that the United States should praise"

► 6 questions (and some answers) about Egypt, Danielle Pletka, July 8, 2013

"When the military comes in, ousts the elected leader, takes out his political party, closes down its HQ, shuts down its media, and announces that it is in control, that’s what we call a coup, folks."

► Where's America?, Thomas Donnelly, July 3, 2013

"For the second time in as many years, an Egyptian autocrat has been deposed. In Syria, another one hangs on. Across the Muslim world, the political future hangs in the balance."

► What Obama should learn from Egypt's coup, Michael Rubin, July 3, 2013

"I never thought I would celebrate a coup, but the Egyptian military’s move against President Muhammad Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood regime is something the White House, State Department, and all Western liberals should celebrate."

► Let Egypt fail, Michael Rubin, July 1, 2013

"Let the Muslim Brotherhood be discredited in the eyes not only of Egyptians, but all Arabs and Turks and, indeed, the world. Perhaps then the region can begin its long climb to recovery."

► Egypt's 'moderate' despot, Jonah Goldberg, November 27, 2012

"The West has been in denial about President Mohamed Morsi, who has deftly built the apparatus of despotism to consolidate power."

► Whitewashing Islamists , Michael Rubin, October 1, 2012

"Democracy is a noble goal, but too often its advocates prioritize the process of democracy rather than democracy as a verifiable result. The actions of the Muslim Brotherhood demonstrate that the two are often mutually exclusive. "

► Egypt's un-revolution, Danielle Pletka, June 15, 2012

"Egypt must own its revolution. Things cannot go back, they must go forward. It's up to the Egyptian people to choose how."

► Is Egypt the new Algeria?, Michael Rubin, June 14, 2012

"Egyptians will not allow [the military's] mantra of restoring law-and-order to replace genuine desire for reform."

► Can the Muslim Brotherhood unite Egypt? It will be hard not to fail, Danielle Pletka, June 26, 2012

"Some will label the ascension of Mohamed Morsi to Egypt's presidency a victory — for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, the cause of Islamism writ large and for the ballot box over terrorism. But if you think this round in the unruly Egyptian saga post-Mubarak was won by the Brotherhood, think again."

► In Egypt, a rare second chance for US to support democracy, Michael Rubin, June 19, 2012

"Egypt is at a crossroads. One path leads to civil chaos and another leads to dictatorship."

► Enterprise Symposium: Egyptian revolution, one year later January 25, 2012
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About the Author

 

Danielle
Pletka

  • As a long-time Senate Committee on Foreign Relation senior professional staff member for the Near East and South Asia, Danielle Pletka was the point person on Middle East, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan issues. As the vice president for foreign and defense policy studies at AEI, Pletka writes on national security matters with a focus on Iran and weapons proliferation, the Middle East, Syria, Israel and the Arab Spring. She also studies and writes about South Asia: Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.


    Pletka is the co-editor of “Dissent and Reform in the Arab World: Empowering Democrats” (AEI Press, 2008) and the co-author of “Containing and Deterring a Nuclear Iran” (AEI Press, 2011). Her most recent study, “Iranian influence in the Levant, Egypt, Iraq, and Afghanistan,” was published in May 2012. She is currently working on a follow-up report on U.S.–Iranian competitive strategies in the Middle East, to be published in the summer of 2013.


     


    Follow Danielle Pletka on Twitter.


  • Phone: 202-862-5943
    Email: dpletka@aei.org

  • Assistant Info

    Name: Alexandra Della Rocchetta
    Phone: 202-862-7152
    Email: alex.dellarocchetta@aei.org
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Michael
Rubin

  • Michael Rubin is a former Pentagon official whose major research area is the Middle East, with a special focus on Iran, Turkey, Arab politics, Afghanistan and diplomacy. Rubin regularly instructs senior military officers deploying to the Middle East on regional politics, and teaches classes regarding Iran, terrorism, and Arab politics on U.S. aircraft carriers. Rubin has lived in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Yemen, both pre- and post-war Iraq, and spent time with the Taliban before 9/11. Encounter Books will publish his newest book, Dancing with the Devil, a history of U.S. diplomacy with rogue regimes and terrorist groups in early 2014.


     


    Follow Michael Rubin on Twitter.


  • Phone: 202-862-5851
    Email: mrubin@aei.org

  • Assistant Info

    Name: Ahmad Majidyar
    Phone: 202-862-5845
    Email: ahmad.majidyar@aei.org
Show More | See Full Profile

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