The Role of Army in Economic and Socio-Political Structure of Modern Egypt: Experience of the Past and Perspectives

The "Arab awakening" of 2011, as it was supposed, should have changed the political systems of Middle East significantly and started a democracy era. However, speech about success of democracy in the region would be a mistake. The research analyzes transformation of army's role in Egypt since the start of Gamal Abdel Nasser's reign. The author investigates circumstances that helped strengthening or weakening the army's professional, political and economic role in different times. The historical retrospective helps understand the ways for creation and consolidation of power branches in the army's hands and why the "arab spring" did not lead to the fall of the "hated" by local people regime. Moreover, the research analyzes the current role of army in the country's life and provides perspectives for development of events inside the state.