MORE THAN A RESPONSE TO ISLAMISM - THE POLITICAL DELIBERALIZATION OF EGYPT IN THE 1990S

Since the early 1990s, Egypt has experienced a substantial degree of p olitical deliberalization which defies the notion of a blocked transit ion to democracy, Repressive amendments to the penal code and to legis lation governing professional syndicates and trade unions as well as u nprecedented electoral fraud are only some of the indicators. Though r elated to the conflict between the regime and armed Islamist groups, t he erosion of political participation and liberties also reflects othe r factors, including attempts to contain opposition to economic libera lization under the current reform program.