An Egyptian diplomat-turned-scholar provides a detailed analysis of events from the fall of Mubarak through the aftermath of the 2013 military move to oust Egypt's first democratically elected president. The Arab Spring caught the world by surprise and was truly inspiring. Then, many watched with bewilderment as the process unfolded in unforeseen directions. This lively and well-documented book tells the story of events in Egypt from the end of the Mubarak era in 2010 through the revolution in 2011 and the military interference in the summer of 2013. Written from an insider's perspective, it discusses what occurred and analyzes the motives of the parties involved, putting each incident in context so the reader can see-and understand-the big picture. The author's background as an Egyptian diplomat provides insights that fuel a nuanced and richly detailed study. Among other topics, the book sheds light on the Egyptian military and economy, the life and written opinions of the military leader Al Sisi, and ties between the United States and the Egyptian armed forces. It reveals evidence of a conspiracy against the first elected civilian administration in Egypt, details the conflict between the Islamists and the deep state, and examines the rise and fall of political Islam. A final chapter speculates about possible scenarios for the future of Egypt. Answers a broad array of questions posed by those who continue to be puzzled by the tangled web of events that occurred during this period Approaches the cause of Egypt's rebellion from multiple angles, including the military, domestic political parties, political Islam, and the greater context of the Arab Spring Looks at why the Islamists came out victorious and what precipitated a shift in public sentiment that induced Egyptians to take to the streets in opposition to the leader they'd elected one year earlier Analyzes whether the military interference was premeditated and whether there was a conspiracy against the nation's first civilian administration

In Geography and the Wealth of Nations, Sherif Khalifa argues that geography influences the factors that determine economic performance, such as the quality of institutions, the adopted cultural values, the systems of governance, the likelihood of conflict, the historical experiences, and the integration into the global economy. This book discusses in detail how geographic features influence each of these factors and how these determinants, in turn, affect economic outcomes. Khalifa shows that we cannot fully comprehend the economic consequences of these factors without exploring their geographic origins. This effort is especially critical as the world faces unprecedented environmental challenges, including climate change, worsening natural disasters, resource depletion, soil degradation, deforestation, desertification, and loss of biodiversity. Given these drastic changes, this book provides powerful insight into how geographic determinants continue to shape global crises.