Conclusion to EU, Egypt and Democracy Promotion

Bassant Hassib () and Christian Kaunert ()

A chapter in EU, Egypt and Democracy Promotion, 2025, pp 159-165 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This conclusion synthesises the findings of the book, which critically evaluates the EU's role in promoting democracy and human rights in post-Mubarak Egypt, with a focus on the Civil Society Facility (CSF) instrument. The analysis reveals a gap between the EU's rhetoric and the practical outcomes of its democracy promotion efforts. While the CSF aimed to empower civil society organisations (CSOs) as drivers of democratic reform, its impact was limited by a combination of interrelated challenges within the EU and Egypt's institutional dynamics and the socio-political environment in Egypt. Within the EU, institutional incoherence resulted in prioritising strategic interests over democratisation, weakening its credibility. Within Egypt, restrictive NGO laws, limited trust in CSOs, and weak NGO capacities limited the success of CSF-funded projects. The book concludes that successful external support for democratisation requires favourable conditions, emphasising the need for coherent policies and local adaptability in democracy-promotion efforts.

Keywords: European Union; Egypt; Civil Society Facility; Democracy promotion; Arab Spring; European Neighbourhood Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035350520
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