Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Since revolution ousted Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak in February 2011, the country has undergone tremendous internal tumult, as the military, Islamist groups, and democratic reformers of all stripes have jockeyed for position in the dawning new order. For now, the Muslim Brotherhood is in power and is re-shaping the political structure.

Since revolution ousted Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak in February 2011, the country has undergone tremendous internal tumult, as the military, Islamist groups, and democratic reformers of all stripes have jockeyed for position in the dawning new order. For now, the Muslim Brotherhood is in power and is re-shaping the political structure. It remains unclear whether Egypt can become a liberal democracy any time soon.

FDD senior fellow Khairi Abaza is a former senior official in Egypt’s secular liberal Wafd party, and represents the fifth generation of liberal reformers in his family. He travels regularly to Egypt, and his work has been published by National Interest, Foreign Policy, the Los Angeles Times, and the Financial Times.

By Reuel Marc Gerecht

Purchase

Senior fellow John Hannah served from 2005 to 2009 as senior foreign policy advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney, in which capacity he worked closely with all arms of the U.S. executive branch and governments across the Arab world.

FDD also employs senior fellow Reuel Marc Gerecht, a former CIA senior operative specializing in Middle East affairs, who has traveled widely throughout the region, and writes regularly for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post.