Preface

Summary

Between January 25, 2011 and June 2014, I wrote thirty-four reports about the events occurring in Egypt, which I labeled Egypt Updates. They were published electronically at http://mcherifbassiouni.com/egypt-updates/ about every two months and ranged from twenty-five to forty-five pages, covering ongoing events and breaking news. They also contained my commentaries, assessments, and sometimes my predictions. I did not write these electronic communications on any set schedule; instead I was guided by what I saw.

Egypt Updates were sent electronically to about three thousand people in more than twenty countries, and many recipients forwarded them to others. That material, which is still on my website as originally drafted, provides the foundation for this book.

My goals in writing the original Egypt Updates were to be informative and analytical as well as share my opinions and reactions to the extraordinary – and at times overwhelming – events as they were unfolding. I did so in a style that I hoped painted an accurate picture of what was happening at the time. I tried to remain as fair and objective as I could, but even so, protagonists on all sides criticized me as too harsh or too lenient, a reaction I knew was inevitable in such a highly polarized society.

Although Egypt Updates provided some of the basic material for this book, I have added new facts and analyses. Some chapters contain descriptive, chronological material reporting on events as they unfolded, while others are more analytical or topical. My hope is that these different approaches blend together to present information in an interesting and accessible way.

The reader will note some recurring patterns. This applies to the descriptions of demonstrations and protests; where, how, and why they took place; who the protagonists were; what the outcomes were in terms of human suffering and material damage; how much violent or nonviolent behavior was shown by protesters, police, and military; and how respect for the rule of law was abused.