The International Dimensions of Democratization in Egypt

Gamal M. Selim is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Port Said University (Egypt) and the British University in Egypt, and the Coordinator of Academic Activity for the International Association of Middle Eastern Studies (IAMES). He obtained a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Calgary in 2011. His research interests include international relations theory, arms control and non-proliferation, democratization, politics of development and international relations of the Middle East. His most recent work include: Global and Regional Approaches to Arms Control in the Middle East: A Critical Assessment from the Arab World (2013); Sectarianism and External Intervention: The US Occupation of Iraq and the Rise of ‘Political Sectarianism’ in the Arab World (2013). He has published numerous articles on Egyptian and Middle East politics. His latest journal articles have appeared in Arab Studies Quarterly and International Journal of Contemporary Iraqi Studies.

Introduction.- Conventional Explanations of Egyptian Democratization.- External Factors and Democratization: A Conceptual Framework.- Egyptian Political Transformations since Independence.- Egypt's Integration into the Global Economy and the Dynamics of Political Deliberalization.- The Western Democracy Agenda in Egypt: The Persistence of the Democracy-Stability Dilemma.- Global Civil Society and Egypt's Transition: The Dynamics of the Boomerang Effect.- Egypt and the Cross-National Diffusion of Democratic Experiences.- Conclusion.

"This study examines the role of the external factors that affect the promotion or demotion of democracy in the Arab World generally and Egypt in particular. ... this book is very helpful in developing a historic understanding of democratization in Egypt, especially the external factors that influenced Egypt democratization. It is a valuable contribution to the library of Middle East studies." (Abdalhadi Alijla, DAVO Deutsche Arbeitsgemeindschaft Vorderer Orient, Vol. 42-43, 2017)

"The book under review provides a rich empirical analysis of the international dimensions of democratization in Egypt ... . by furnishing a comprehensive historical overview of Egypt's struggle for democracy and ample empirical data on the international dimensions of Egypt's authoritarian resilience, Selim provides a valuable basis on which researchers interested in Egypt can build." (May Darwich, Middle East Journal, Vol. 70 (2), 2016)