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.