Centralization of power as a result of the development of the egyptian elite during 2014-2023. Forward to the past?

Abstract

This article attempts to analyze the key groups of the Egyptian elite in 2014-2023 in accordance to the elite theory. A.F. El-Sisi was first elected to the presidency of Egypt in 2014 after the 2013 military coup that overthrew former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi (in position 2012-2013). There is an opinion that with the advent of A.F. El-Sisi to power there was a rollback of the political system to pre-revolutionary times until 2011. Nevertheless, as a result of an analysis, the article shows significant differences between the regimes of Presidents H. Mubarak and A.F. El-Sisi, especially in relation to the opposition. Despite the relative success in security issues, Egypt remains in a tense economic situation, rising inflation and dependence on external debt (among the creditors both the Gulf States and international institutions like IMF). The mega-projects in accordance with the “Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS): Egypt Vision 2030” do not have enough positive impact on the economy. In this regard, Egypt is facing a complex of structural geopolitical and economic challenges. The paper demonstrates the relationship between key state institutions, and also reveals the strengthening of the role and influence of the General Intelligence Service (GIS) in the political process. At the same time, GIS itself underwent serious personnel changes - infiltration by the military intelligence of the Armed Forces (where the president came from).Despite the repeating resistance of certain parts of the elite (both business elites and the religious establishment), President A.F. El-Sisi consistently promotes the centralization of power.