The Kefaya Movement A Case Study of a Grassroots Reform Initiative

by Oweidat, Nadia; Stahl, Dale; Benard, Cheryl; Kildani, Walid; Grant, Audra K.

• ISBN13: 9780833045485
• ISBN10: 0833045482
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-12-16
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

Kefaya was an indigenous movement for political reform organized in late 2004 in opposition to the regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. This examination of Kefaya's birth, accomplishments, and decline is based on an analysis of the work of Egyptian scholars and Arabic-language media reports (including online and new media), as well as structured interviews with persons associated with and observers of Kefaya and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. iii
Summary	p. vii
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Introduction	p. 1
Kefaya's Origins	p. 3
The U.S.-Egyptian Relationship	p. 4
Democratization in Egypt During the 1990s	p. 8
Emergence of Kefaya	p. 10
Kefaya's Successes	p. 17
Timing and Simplicity of Message	p. 18
Position to Mobilize and Form Coalitions	p. 18
Setting an Example of Peaceful Opposition	p. 19
Successful Exploitation of Information Technology	p. 20
Kefaya's Internet Strategy	p. 22
Bloggers	p. 23
General Public	p. 12
Media	p. 24
Challenging the Regime	p. 24
Inspiration for Others: Kefaya's National and International Influence	p. 25
Kefaya's Decline	p. 27
Intimidation by the State	p. 27
Manipulation of "Reform" Laws	p. 30
State-Controlled Media	p. 31
The Faltering of the Coalition with the Islamists	p. 32
Problems with the Elite and the Antidemocracy Message	p. 35
Internal Reasons for Kefaya's Decline	p. 38
Lessons for a Future Kefaya	p. 40
Conclusions and Implications for U.S. Policy	p. 43
Perceptions for the United States	p. 44
Policy Recommendations	p. 48
Conclusion	p. 52
References	p. 55
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