Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Economics and Political Science - Department of Political Science

The importance of this study lies in determining the obstacles facing political reform in Egypt and how to overcome them, with a special focus on the role of the european union (EU) and the Egyptian cultural context in facilitating or hindering the political reform process, along with other factors, which are primarily the socio - economic conditions, as well as political conditions, and the state of civil society. The period of study is from the year 2005 to the year 2010. This study posed and answered key questions relevant to this case, namely; what are the key factors driving political reform in european eyes? What are the key factors driving political reform from the arab experience? What is the EU{u2019}s declared position on political reform in Egypt? What are the determinants of political reform in Egypt? On the popular culture level, what are the obstacles and facilitators to political reform in Egypt? How far is Egyptian political culture a key factor in the political reform process? Furthermore, this study resulted in producing a set of recommendations, on the internal front and on the level of relations with the EU, as well as on the level of the EU{u2019}s role itself, as to how to enhance and improve the political reform process and put Egypt on the path towards becoming a stable democracy

Issued also as CD