BA International Relations, Dublin City University, 2008. MA International Security and Conflict Studies, Dublin City University, 2009
Research Interests
Egyptian Politics, The Politics of the Middle East and North Africa, The International Relations of the Middle East, Democratisation, Authoritarian Rule, Elite Conflict, The Arab-Israeli Conflict, US Foreign Policy
Abstract Title
Egypt’s Last Pharaoh? The Egyptian Uprisings and the Fall of Hosni Mubarak
Supervisor
Francesco Cavatorta
Abstract
February 2011 saw Hosni Mubarak deposed as president of Egypt in the face of protests against his rule after more than thirty years in power. The purpose of this study is to examine why the Egyptian uprisings led to Mubarak’s resignation as president of Egypt. The emerging literature on authoritarian stability has highlighted the importance of elite cohesion to the maintenance of authoritarian stability and this study posits that Mubarak resigned because he could no longer maintain elite cohesion in his ruling coalition. This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of elite cohesion by outlining what variables maintain elite cohesion and what variables lead to its collapse.