Whatever Happened to the Egyptian Revolution? - Tapa dura

Praise for Egypt in the Era of Hosni Mubarak: "Perceptive and insightful . . . [A]s an economist and as a social commentator, [Amin] provides helpful perspective on the post-1952 revolution."The Global Ministries Praise for Egypt in the Era of Hosni Mubarak: "[A] tremendous read."Al Ahram Weekly Praise for Egypt in the Era of Hosni Mubarak: "Prominent Egyptian economist and historical commentator Gamal Amin presents this new history of contemporary Egypt documenting the politics, international relations, and social and intellectual history of the Mubarak era."Reference and Research Book News, April 2012 "Amin presents a study of the months leading up to the Egyptian Revolution of January 2011. He takes up the causes of the revolution, the reasons for hope and concern, as well as prospects for the future. He considers the significance of unemployment, the appropriation of public property, the events of January 25th, whether or not it was a revolution or military-backed coup, the role of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the possibilities for social justice and a secular state. He celebrates how the revolution took down the Mubarak regime, but laments how it failed months later to install a people's government."-Reference & Research Book News

In his latest exploration of the Egyptian malaise, Galal Amin first looks at the events of the months preceding the Revolution of 25 January 2011, pointing out the most important factors behind popular discontent. He then follows the ups and downs (mainly the downs) of the Revolution: the causes of rising hopes and expectations, mingled with successive disappointments, sometimes verging on despair, not least in the case of the presidential elections, when the Egyptian people were invited to choose between a rock and a hard place. This is followed by an outline of a possible brighter future for Egypt, based on a more balanced and faster growing economy, and a more democratic and equitable society, within a truly independent, modern, and secular state. The story of what happened to the 2011 Revolution may be a sad one, but if viewed within the larger context of Egypt's economic and social developments of the last century, on which the author's previous books threw very useful light, it can be regarded as one important step forward toward a much better future.