Party proliferation and electoral transition in post-Mubarak Egypt

Abstract

In the aftermath of the popular revolt that overthrew President Mubarak in February 2011, Egypt's transition to democracy has been a cautious one. Despite the restrained pace of reform, one of the defining features of post-Mubarak politics has been a surge in the number of new political parties contesting seats in Parliament. This paper argues that the nature of Egypt's new mixed-member majoritarian electoral system encourages loose alliances dominated by three political factions: liberals, leftists, and religious parties. It focuses on Egypt's new electoral framework, emerging political realities, and those parties likely to shape the political landscape in the future.