Egypt

Egypt is the Arab country that has attracted most interest from the rest of the world. History books witness of an enduring power, where the first kingdom arose as early as 3200 B.C. Dynasties and empires have ruled here, from the Persians to the Romans and the British. A great deal of its historic heritage has survived for millennia. Before the revolution in early 2011, leading to a drop in visitors, Egypt had 11 million visitors annually, making it a tourism hotspot.

Egypt owes much of its historic success and development to the Nile River, which runs through the eastern parts down from the Mediterranean in the north towards Sudan in the south. Most civilizations in Egypt have flourished as a result of the Nile, and many of the ancient sites are found along the riverbanks. The Suez Canal provided another way for Egypt to strengthen its importance in the region. Finished only years before the British took formal control over the Egyptian government in 1882, the Suez Canal quickly developed into a significant transportation hub, allowing ships to transit between Europe and Asia without having to travel around Africa. However, the canal has also posed problems for the country. For example, the Suez Crisis in 1956 was the result of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s attempt to nationalize the Suez Canal. The event led to the controversial intervention of British, French and Israeli forces. A “battle” that ultimately was won by Nasser.

Since the toppling of the monarchy and the ousting of the British in the early 1950s, Egypt’s political life has been directed by former military officers; from Nasser, to Anwar Sadat and most recently Hosni Mubarak. The country has seen substantial economic growth as a result of economic liberalization, but restrictions on political participation and civil liberties have characterized the public sphere. Problems with unemployment and corruption in the past years pushed the country’s youth to engage in widespread protests. However, it was not until 2011, with inspiration from the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia, that millions of Egyptians came together and ousted President Hosni Mubarak. Since February 2011, the High Council of the Armed Forces temporarily rules the country.