Egypt in the Era of Hosni Mubarak

Book excerpt: Turning his attention to the shaping of Egyptian society, the author offers thematic chapters addressing such pressing issues as corruption, poverty, the plight of the middle class, and of course, the economy. Along the way, he directs his penetrating gaze toward the Mubarak regime's uneasy relationship with the relatively free press it has encouraged, the vexing issue of presidential succession, and Egypt's relations with the Arab world and the United States. Addressing such themes from the perspective of an active participant in Egyptian intellectual life throughout the era, Galal Amin portrays the Mubarak regime's stance in the domestic and international arenas as very much a product of history, which, while not exonerating the regime, certainly helps to explain it.