Egypt has, for a long time, faced instability in its politics and economy and has had an authoritarian regime. Hosni Mubarak’s rule was brought down in January 2011 after the onset of the Arab Spring, which impacted the Middle East and North Africa. The uprising toppled various Arab dictators and proved renewed interest among political scientists and activists (Gerges, 2014). Egypt faced various changes resulting from the uprising, and the country experienced a power void and chaotic politics resulting in the Muslim Brotherhood and a military coup emergence in 2013. As the new Leader of Egypt, I believe in establishing a reform agenda to address the country’s political and economic issues while propagating stability and balance between the various key actors. The Arab Spring events have taught us that unpredicted revolts can occur. The paper focuses on my reform agenda, including the proposals for implementing democratic reforms, improving the political economy, and ensuring civil society’s position, roles, and freedom. The essay will also explain how these reforms can lead to a prosperous and peaceful country.
Implementing Democratic Reforms
I firmly believe that democratic reforms are essential for Egypt’s development. Egypt has a long history of authoritarian rule, and the Arab Spring attempted to break away from this tradition (Khondker, 2019). Although Egypt has had several attempts to implement democratic reforms, the efforts have been overshadowed by military intervention and the suppression of opposition voices. Therefore, I believe in the power of democracy to promote a country’s stability and prosperity. I propose forming an independent judiciary and allowing freedom of the press to help implement democratic reforms. The judiciary should be free from political interference and should ensure the protection of civil rights and liberties. The judiciary’s independence is critical to ensure justice is served without interference or bias. Although the judiciary has had a reputation as a respectful institution, the authoritarian rule in Egypt has impacted judicial independence (Elbasyouny, 2020). The courts have been used for political ends, contributing to disputes taking a long time before review and resolution. Enhancing the judiciary’s independence will ensure that the fundamental rights of the citizens are safeguarded and respected. It will also ensure that long overdue cases are disputed efficiently to ensure justice is served promptly. Lack of judiciary independence minimizes enforcing the rule of law and suppresses justice (Pratt & Rezk, 2019).
The press should also be free to report political and social matters without fear of censorship or retribution. A free and independent press helps provide citizens with accurate information about their government and its issues (Boulianne, 2019). This will ensure human rights violations and corruption exposure, and the authorities are held accountable for their action. My administration will ensure that the government or any political party does not control media outlets and that they have the freedom to operate independently. For a long time, scholars have defined democracy as the mass participation in various dealings of the nation, including elections. Establishing an independent electoral commission will allow fairness in the election process. Fair and free elections are the cornerstone of any democracy, and I will work towards ensuring that all political parties have equal participation in the electoral process. This will also enhance the promotion of political pluralism to encourage the participation of all political groups in the political process. My administration will establish a caregiver government, review some articles in the constitution and craft new democratic political institutions. This will help promote democracy in the country.
Political Economy and Increasing Income
Egypt’s political economy should be reformed to allow for inclusive growth and reduced poverty margins. The current system has failed to address the majority’s issues, increasing inequality and poverty (Elbasyouny, 2020). Therefore, a conducive environment that promotes sustainability and economic growth is important. One main focus area for my reform agenda will be attracting foreign investment to the country. We will implement policies designed to create a more business-friendly environment, providing incentives for local and international investors to ensure investments are made in the country. This will create new jobs and opportunities, resulting in a rise in income levels. Economic diversification will allow for a more resilient economy, less susceptible to external shocks and global market fluctuations. Partnership with non-governmental organizations is key to promoting economic stability and inclusive development (Pratt & Rezk, 2019). In the past, USDA partnered with Egyptian people, government, and public institutions to enhance economic development. My government will work with various non-governmental agencies to support public sector automation and promote women’s social and economic development. This will increase the overall income margins as many Egyptians will contribute to economic development. The government will also support comprehensive socioeconomic reform efforts to improve the investment climate and foster economic growth for the benefit of all. Community awareness is key in engaging society and leaders in discussing empowering women and changing society’s perception of women’s roles in families and the economy. My government will develop programs that will help women participate in the economy. The empowerment programs will target women and other marginalized persons in Egypt to ensure they understand their role in economic development.
Corruption is a global phenomenon that stifles economic development and diverts resources from main projects such as healthcare and education. It also degrades administrative quality and prevents foreign investments. My government will address inefficiencies and corruption in all governmental institutions. It will develop efficient anti-corruption policies and streamline their bureaucratic procedures to deal with corrupt entities. My government will create and streamline avenues for citizens to report corruption and ensure that corrupt officials are prosecuted per the provisions of the law. This will enhance investments leading to a more efficient and transparent rule that meets the population’s needs. My administration will require government officials to disclose their financial interests and assets to promote transparency and accountability. A comprehensive reform program that includes structural reforms, fiscal consideration, and investment in human capital to increase income levels will be established. The reforms will help Egypt invest in human capital to provide the workforce with the necessary skills to compete in the global economy.
Income inequality which has long been a source of social unrest in Egypt, will also be addressed. This will necessitate fundamental changes to our tax code, such as implementing a progressive income tax and redistributing wealth to people with low incomes. Wealth inequality in Egypt is high, with 10% of the richest people owning 61% of the total wealth despite having only 28.4% of the income (Fauad, 2021). Effective policies will be established to ensure equitable wealth distribution in the country. The reformed constitution will include the policies to ensure they remain binding. This will help reduce the country’s poverty levels and enhance economic empowerment.
Civil Society Position, Role, and Freedom
Civil society often operates on a non-profit basis and is key in promoting, protecting, and advancing human rights. Establishing legal protections for civil society organizations and ensuring they have access to resources and funding is key to promoting their position, role, and freedoms. They have played a major role in shaping Egypt’s political landscape and have served as key actors in the Arabs Spring. However, the authoritarian rule has subjected them to repression and harassment. Civil society ensures that governments are held accountable and effectively address the people’s needs (Khondker, 2019). Establishing a conducive environment for civil society will enhance their effective operation. My government will support the development of civil society organizations, NGOs, and human rights groups to play an active role in public affairs. Civil society organizations can be an important source of government feedback, and they have a distinctive perspective on the needs and aspirations of citizens. Therefore we will work to ensure they operate freely without fear of repression or harassment. To increase civil society organizations’ capacity, I will promote education and training opportunities for individuals and groups interested in advocacy and public policy. I will also create a partnership between the government and civil society organizations to ensure there is a collaboration in identifying and addressing public policy issues.
Freedom of expression, association, and media are basic preconditions for a democratic and diverse society. The government will introduce policies promoting freedom of expression, association, and freedom of the press. Citizens must be free to express their opinion, make peaceful gatherings and demonstrations, and form associations without fear of reprisal. These liberties are essential for the functioning of a democratic society and are enshrined in international human rights law. My administration will ensure that these rights are protected and that citizens can exercise them without fear of government interference. We will also support it as a cornerstone for a democratic society. My government will recognize the crucial role that journalists and media organizations play in holding those in power accountable, and therefore we will enhance its freedom and independence. The media allows for a wide exchange of information and connect activists for a common goal. We will ensure that media organizations can operate without fear of government interference or censorship and journalists can report on public interest issues. The government or political groups often control the media to advance specific political agendas, leading to neo-authoritarianism. My administration will enhance a respectful culture for the law and rights of the citizens.
Human rights are universal and indivisible; respect is essential for a country’s long-term stability and prosperity. Significant human rights issues in Egypt include unlawful massacre, including extrajudicial killings by the ruling class or their agents. Detainees in Egypt have in the past undertaken hunger strikes demanding improved conditions (Gan Integrity, 2020). My government will establish effective policies in collaboration with human rights activists and organizations to enhance detainees’ welfare by promoting sanitation and ensuring access to medical treatment. The criminal procedure and code will be reviewed to include the provision of reasonable access to prisoners, which includes visitation by their family members, and the provision of personal effects and healthy diets. We will work to promote a culture of human rights and ensure that anyone violating them is brought to account.
Conclusion
Egypt faces numerous challenges that require urgent and sustainable attention if the country is to achieve sustainable political and economic stability. The challenges include addressing the role of religion in politics, implementing democratic reforms, improving the political economy, strengthening civil society, and reforming foreign policy. These reforms must be undertaken deliberately and inclusively considering the Egyptians’ concerns and aspirations. The government will establish a conducive environment that promotes sustainability and economic growth. It will implement effective and efficient policies designed to create a more business-friendly environment, providing incentives for local and international investors to promote local investments. My government will prioritize the rule of the law, accountability, transparency, and inclusive decision-making process. The administration will empower civil society to be more active in shaping policy and holding the government accountable. Establishing a conducive environment for civil society will enhance their effective operation. The government will promote freedom of the press to allow efficient operation without fear of reprisal. I will ensure that the government or any political party does not control media outlets and that they have the freedom to operate independently. The criminal procedure and code will be reviewed to include the provision of reasonable access to prisoners. The judiciary should not be influenced by the political and should protect civil rights and liberties. I believe that diplomacy is the best approach to promoting a country’s interests in the global arena. Achieving these reforms will require the support and cooperation of different stakeholders, including governmental and non-governmental institutions. I believe undertaking these reforms will unlock Egypt’s potential and allow it to emerge as a stable, prosperous, and democratic society fully integrated into the international community.
References
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Elbasyouny, A. (2020). Constitutional Courts in Transition: Judicial Review in the Wake of the Arab Spring.
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Pratt, N., & Rezk, D. (2019). Securitizing the Muslim Brotherhood: State violence and authoritarianism in Egypt after the Arab Spring. Security Dialogue, 50(3), 239-256.
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