On The Legitimacy Of Egyptian Government

Legitimacy is a prominent feature in western Asia and Africa since the TunisianRevolution in2011. It reflects the relationship between the governors and the people undertheir rules by explaining questions like what kind of regime can win people’s support, how towin their support and how a regime loses its legitimacy. Legitimacy constitutes three majorelements, namely, recognition, regime’s legality, and results of governance. Changes indomestic and international situations put forward new requests for the governors. It hasbecome a key for governors to maintain their rule by keeping abreast of the times and makingpolicy adjustments. The question of a regime’s legitimacy and legitimation once again is inthe spot light in both political and academic circles in the wake of the outbreak of legitimacycrisis in the region. Egypt was one of the countries that attracted worldwide attention duringthis period. Egypt’s performance in the wave that swept the region was not accidental. It wasan outbreak of numerous long-term accumulations of contradictions. Egypt enjoys a longhistory with rich civilization. It had experienced British and French colonial rules and alsohad constant or close interactions with the Soviet Union and the United States. Egypt’s ownefforts, plus these experiences, give Egypt a high level of secularization and make its societymore liberal. Meanwhile, Egypt plays a critical role in safeguarding regional and world peace,stability and security. Due to historical reasons and limits in productivity, totalitarian andauthoritarian rules had been dominating Egypt’s political life. The Egyptians had been livingin unrest during the period from Mubarack’s ouster to the end of Mursi’s regime. However, italso reflected the country’s attempt to push forward democratic development. This processalso fully exposed problems existing in Egypt’s political, economic and social development.Those problems, added together, challenge regimes legitimacy. Totalitarian and authoriativerules were significant features of Egypt. The question of the regimes’ legitimacy and problemsin the process of transformation were all very representative. Analysis of Egypt’s legitimacycrisis can help understand the hope and expectations of both the governors and the governedtowards each other in different periods, explain their relationship and how their interactionsinfluence a regime’s establishment, maintenance, consolidation, weakening and subversion.