EGYPT FOREIGN POLICY ORIENTATION AND ITS IMPACTS ON CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS

Abstract

In civil-military relations, the focus is generally on the domestic variables. This is mainly because that this type of relations can be described as special type of bureaucratic politics. It is simply; two bureaucratic groups are competing or clashing over the political powers. The thesis main hypothesis is that the foreign relations of Egypt have significant impact on the civil-military relations inside Egypt. This impacts are usually in favor of the military. The study reviewed the hypothesis by examining the foreign relations of Egypt during different periods which represents different political regimes adopting variant foreign policy orientations. As the Egyptian regime is mixture of military and personal rule; the periods of study are divided according to presidents. In each period the foreign policy orientation of the president is examined and the direct effects on the civil-military relations in that period is analysed in order to conclude clear patterns of impacts. The study focuses on Egypt’s relations with United States and Soviet Union and later Russia in international level. Also it focuses on Egypt’s relations with Israel and Gulf countries especially Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates in regional level. These relations are examined from the establishment of the republic after 1952 coup against the dynasty, starting by Nasser, then passing by Sadat and Mubarak, ending with different regimes after 25 January 2011 revolution, including ruling period of Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), Morsi, and Sisi. This thesis assume that there are factors can hold significance in studying foreign policy interaction with civil-military relations in Egypt like military agreements with foreign states, Economic interests of both foreign states and the military, and Financial loans and aids. By studying these factors, the motives of foreign countries to intervene domestic politics can be understood. Also these factors can give clear idea about size of this intervention and its impact on the relations between civilians and military. Egypt foreign policy witnessed shifts from non-alignment to east as USSR ally during Nasser period and then dramatically changed and became as US ally from Sadat period till nowadays. Except Morsi period, the armed forces succeeded to gain benefits from different situations in order to enhance the political cover of the existing regime and to obtain various forms of military, security and economic support. The thesis concludes that the foreign countries interaction with Egypt can be addressed as a main factor that strongly shaped the relative balance of political powers between civilians and the military. The significance of the external factor on the civil-military relations was persistent despite the foreign policy orientations changed widely throughout historical advancement. And this contributed to the obstruction of the democratic transition.