Democracy and the re-consolidation of authoritarian rule in Egypt

Abstract

Despite the introduction of important liberalization measures, Egypt still suffers from serious democratic deficits. Mubarak's inconsistent political reforms, especially since the 2005 legislative elections, have raised many questions and revived the discussion on whether Egypt is heading in a democratic direction. This article contributes to this discussion by investigating the political process under Mubarak's regime and critically analysing the 2005 legislative elections and the 2007 constitutional amendments. It argues that the behaviour of the Egyptian regime since the 2005 elections, particularly with the introduction of the 2007 constitutional amendments, demonstrates its determination to re-consolidate its authoritarian practices.