Contemporary Egyptian Politics (Political Science 368, 3 credits)

This course offers students a comprehensive understanding of contemporary Egyptian politics and society. Students engage in a wide range of onsite lectures, starting with the founding of modern Egypt by Muhammad Ali in the early 19th century, continuing through British occupation and the Egyptian monarchy up to the revolution in 1952. The course traces the development of the republican government through the presidencies of Gamal Abdul Nasser, Anwar Sadat, and Hosni Mubarak, the 2011 revolution and the post-revolutionary period. Lectures will also focus on Egypt’s regional and international role, Egypt's political economy, the system of governance, elections, civil society, gender and human rights, political parties, Islamic movements, social and youth movements and media. The objective of the course is to understand the historical, cultural, economic, social, and political forces in Egypt today as the shape of the post-revolutionary Egyptian political system emerges. Guest lecturers come from civil society organizations, think tanks and political groupings, and students will visit key organizations as well.