Egypt is a major power and political force in the Middle East, as well
as a recipient of significant amounts of U.S. aid for military and
economic purposes. It is triply important to American interests in the
region as a participant in an important peace treaty and accords with
Israel, in the ongoing Global War on Terror, and in its own transition
to a more democratic and prosperous nation. In this monograph, Dr.
Sherifa Zuhur argues that the Egyptian government's efforts to retain
tight control over the political landscape is impeding the
democratization process. In the name of antiterrorism, these efforts may
not put an end to sporadic outbreaks of militant violence which
reemerged after the 1999 truce with the larger of these radical groups.
The long-protested official state of emergency which grants the Egyptian
government extraordinary powers has been extended, and that action
required constitutional amendments which were recently approved by
referendum.