Forward Thinking Statement Following the Ousting of President Morsi, 11th July

The military coup that ousted Mohammed Morsi from the Presidential Office is a heavy blow to democracy in Egypt. It symbolises a disregard for democratic process and sets a worrying precedent both for the future of Egypt and the region as a whole.The administration of President Morsi failed to meet the unrealistically high expectations of the people. After just one year in power, it would be impossible to successfully address the deep rooted challenges Egypt faces, engrained into the country’s structure during decades of authoritarian rule. Furthermore, the very institutions within Egypt proved to be considerable blockages to national reform under a presidential programme, as these institutions remained part of a system hindered by extensive bureaucracy and deep state influence.Significantly, however, Morsi was unable to bridge the gap in trust that was necessary in order to pursue a fully inclusive transition. This proved to be a fundamental flaw. Egypt’s diverse population is one that can only be fairly represented, initially at least, by coalition government. The lacking ability to reach out to opposition groups effectively in an attempt to construct such a government has inevitably contributed to the anger and frustration of oppositional forces. Equally, blockages within opposition groups that have prevented a collaborative approach to the government have furthered the gap in trust and made the chances of effective cooperation even more remote. Responsibility for the lack of cooperation, therefore, lies with all sides. If leaders were fully open to cooperation and compromise, from an early point in the transition, then thecurrent situation may have been avoided.Nonetheless, despite the faults on both the government and opposition sides, a head of state was in place whose legitimacy was underscored by the Egyptian electorate. Removing such a leader through military coup counteracts the very process of democracy. Of concern is the failure for this to be fully recognised and condemned as a coup by the international community, as it marks the resurgence of a worrying trend in western foreign policy attitudes. This failure on the part of the international community enforces the mantra of interests over values that dictated cooperation with Hosni Mubarak for such a long time.Such an attitude from the international community is likely to have severe implications toward worsening long-term relationships between foreign states and Egypt, and foreign states and the Arab world in general. In addition, the very act of the military coup in Egypt, strengthened by the failure of the international community to voice appropriate criticism, poses the danger ofsetting a precedent not only for Egypt’s future, but for the future of all transitioning states.