Egypt on the Brink: From Nasser to Mubarak by Tarek Osman

1. Egypt on the Brink:
From Nasser to Mubarak
Presentation by Nadia B. Ahmad
Great Books on the Middle East
University of Denver
February 28, 2012

2. President Gamal Abdel Nasser
• “Only truly Egyptian
developmental project in the
country’s history since the fall of
the pharaonic state.”
• Key programs
• Redistribution of land
ownership
• Creation of public sector

3. PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM
“The public sector evolved into a
Soviet-style system of sterile thinking, a
deathbed of talent, a site of mediocre
resource allocation, inefficiency,
suffocating bureaucracy, waste and
decrepit management; in no way could
it support lasting economic
development….”
 Tarek Osman, Egypt on the Brink: From Nasser to Mubarak, Yale University
Press, 2011.

4. NATIONALIZATION OF THE SUEZ
CANAL
BBC

5. President Anwar el-
Sadat
• Economic policy of al-infitah
• Aimed to open up markets to
1. Freer Trade
2. Foreign Investments
3. Market Economies

6. President Hosni
Mubarak
• Strategic orientation for Pax
Americana
• Leadership not taken in Iraqi
invasion of Kuwait in 1990
• Madrid peace conference in 1991
• Role in Oslo accords in 1993
• Increasing freedom of press
• Growing governmental influence
in Al-Azhar University

7. LIBERAL CAPITALISM
“Liberal capitalism in Egypt lacks legitimacy. As a political
force, this current remains a confined, detached, elitist
movement. Unlike Islamism or Arab nationalism, it does not
have any constituency on the Egyptian street. Its leader Gamal
Mubarak, embodies the legitimacy dilemma. He comes across
as being at least as confident and sharp as any of his
economic and financial lieutenants; his work with the NDP
shows leadership skills and a rigorous work ethic; and his
ability to subvert internal party opponents and to crystallize a
solid power elite around him all reveal determination,
intelligence and political resolve. Yet he remains a top down
figure, and it will be very difficult for him to gain a popular
mandate from the people.” (Osman, 139).

8. ISLAMISTS
AFP

9. CHRISTIANS
asenseofbelonging.org

10. DISCUSSION