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Endless Emergency: The Case Of Egypt, Sadiq Reza

Articles & Chapters

The Arab Republic of Egypt has been in a declared state of emergency continuously since 1981 and for all but three of the past fifty years. Emergency powers, military courts, and other exceptional powers are governed by longstanding statutes in Egypt and authorized by the constitution, and their use is a prominent feature ofeveryday rule there today. This essay presents Egypt as a case study in what is essentially permanent governance by emergency rule and other exceptional measures. It summarizes the history and framework ofemergency rule in Egypt, discusses the apparent purposes and consequences of that rule, mentions judicial limitations …