EU, Egypt, and Democracy Promotion offers a compelling and comprehensive analysis of the European Unions efforts to support democratic development in post-Mubarak Egypt. Focusing on the Civil Society Facility (CSF), Bassant Hassib and Christian Kaunert provide a well-researched and balanced assessment of EU-funded initiatives, highlighting the complex interplay between external support and local political dynamics. This book is a valuable resource for academics, investigative journalists, and policymakers interested in democracy promotion, European Union foreign policy, and Middle East politics. It offers useful insights into the conditions under which external democracy support can be practical, making it a timely and relevant contribution to current debates in international relations and political science. -- Ahmed Abdrabou, University of Denver, USA A bittersweet recapitulation of what could have happened to Egypt if democracy had succeeded. For those that were involved in the 2011 uprising, an equally important and, from todays perspective, almost nostalgic reading. -- Jan Claudius Völkel, University of Ottawa, Canada This book makes an invaluable contribution through its critical examination of EU efforts to promote democracy in Egypt between 2011 and 2013, a particularly turbulent time in the countrys history. It provides a clear-eyed view of the challenges encountered by external attempts to promote democratic development and is relevant not only for those studying these efforts but also for policy stakeholders. -- Hans-Jakob Schindler, Counter Extremism Project and ARCHER at House 88, New York, USA, Berlin, Germany and Auschwitz, Poland
