Egypt - A reading guide

The revolution in Egypt

Danielle Pletka, Michael Rubin

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 from AEI's Foreign and Defense Policy team:

MUST-READ ARTICLES

► 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