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MILITARY SUPERVISION OF DEMOCRACY IN EGYPT: ENDEAVOURS OF THE ARMY TO CREATE THE EGYPTIAN FUTURE
Jeff Martini
; a research project associate at the RAND Corporation
Julie Taylor
; a political scientist at the RAND Corporation
Abstract
The text analyzes the ambivalent role of the army in the recent Egyptian revolution
and the ensuing process of democratic transition. On the one hand, the
overthrow of Hosni Mubarak’s regime was a result of the activity of the army,
which supported the protesters since the onset of the revolution. The Supreme
Council of the Armed Forces, the military body which has taken over power in
Egypt, promises to ensure a peaceful transfer of power within a free and democratic
system. On the other hand, some acts of the military authorities in the
transitional period suggest that, in the next period of time, precisely the army
could become the main blocking factor of the process of democratization. The
authors deem that the main goal of the army is not to hold on to power, but
to build such a political system in which it would enjoy a privileged position,
free from civilian control. In the authors’ judgement, if a halt to the process of
democratization is to be prevented, the USA must make use of its influence
and persuade the military leaders, who are preoccupied with their own reputation
among the public, to carry through the initiated reforms.
Keywords
Egypt; Egyptian revolution; democratic transition; civilian control; army
Hrčak ID:
77801
URI
Publication date:
14.2.2012.
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