The Fight over Institutions in Post-Revolution Egypt

Abstract

This paper examines the fight over a new institutional order in post-January Revolution Egypt. It traces institutional change since the ousting of Hosny Mubarak on February 2011. It uses the historical institutionalism theoretical framework in order to illuminate understanding of this process of institutional change during three phases, namely: rule by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (February 2011-June 2012) by the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) (June 2012-June 2013) and since the overthrow of that rule on July 3, 2013. It situates this institutional change within the context of a struggle for power among the three forces that took part in the January Revolution, namely the armed forces, the MB and the revolutionary youth, delineating major issues in this fight. It explains the authoritarian choices of the first two actors in terms of their strategic calculations, unintended consequences, path dependency and past cultural traditions. It brings to light the negative implications of this shaky institutional structure for the search for social justice in Egypt.