Table Of ContentThis content downloaded from
128.59.222.107 on Thu, 27 Aug 2020 22:50:32 UTC
All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms
Watermelon Democracy
Modern Intellectual and Political History of the Middle East
Fred H. Lawson, Series Editor
This content downloaded from
128.59.222.107 on Thu, 27 Aug 2020 22:50:32 UTC
All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms
Select Titles in Modern Intellectual and Political History of the Middle East
Emirate, Egyptian, Ethiopian: Colonial Experiences
in Late Nineteenth-Century Harar
Avishai Ben-Dror
Hakibbutz Ha’artzi, Mapam, and the Demise
of the Israeli Labor Movement
Tal Elmaliach; Haim Watzman, trans.
National Elections in Turkey: People, Politics, and the Party System
F. Michael Wuthrich
National Symbols in Modern Iran: Identity,
Ethnicity, and Collective Memory
Menahem Merhavy
Ottoman Rule of Law and the Modern Political Trial: The Yıldız Case
Avi Rubin
The Revolt of the Young: Essays by Tawf(cid:322)q al-Hakim
Mona Radwan, trans.
Shaykh Y(cid:363)suf al-Qara(cid:379)(cid:286)w(cid:322): Spiritual Mentor of Wasa(cid:537)(cid:466) Salafism
Sagi Polka
Why Alliances Fail: Islamist and Leftist Coalitions in North Africa
Matt Buehler
For a full list of titles in this series,
visit https://press.syr.edu/supressbook-series
/modern-intellectual-and-political-history-of-the-middle-east/.
This content downloaded from
128.59.222.107 on Thu, 27 Aug 2020 22:50:32 UTC
All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms
Watermelon Democracy
Egypt’s Turbulent Transition
Joshua Stacher
Syracuse University Press
This content downloaded from
128.59.222.107 on Thu, 27 Aug 2020 22:50:32 UTC
All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms
Copyright © 2020 by Syracuse University Press
Syracuse, New York 13244-5290
All Rights Reserved
First Edition 2020
20 21 22 23 24 25 6 5 4 3 2 1
∞ The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements
of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence
of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992.
For a listing of books published and distributed by Syracuse University Press,
visit https://press.syr.edu.
ISBN: 978-0-8156-3677-9 (hardcover)
978-0-8156-3687-8 (paperback)
978-0-8156-5500-8 (e-book)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Stacher, Joshua, 1975– author.
Title: Watermelon democracy : Egypt’s turbulent transition / Joshua Stacher.
Description: First edition. | Syracuse, New York : Syracuse University Press, 2020. | Series: Modern
intellectual and political history of the Middle East | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Summary: ““Watermelon Democracy” works from the premise that the 2011 uprising in Egypt and
subsequent violent repression emerged from deep patterns in that country’s modern history.
By examining four aspects of the uprising, and juxtaposing actual events with findings in the
literature, Stacher aims to explain aspects of the Egyptian case that the theoretical literature
cannot”— Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019058554 (print) | LCCN 2019058555 (ebook) | ISBN 9780815636779 (hardcover) |
ISBN 9780815636878 (paperback) | ISBN 9780815655008 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Authoritarianism—Egypt. | Political participation—Egypt. | Political violence—
Egypt. | Egypt—Politics and government—2011– | Egypt—History—Protests, 2011–2013.
Classification: LCC DT107.88 .S73 2020 (print) | LCC DT107.88 (ebook) | DDC 962.05/5—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019058554
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019058555
Manufactured in the United States of America
This content downloaded from
128.59.222.107 on Thu, 27 Aug 2020 22:50:32 UTC
All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms
To Kimmy, Eli, and Noah
May you always read passionately, think clearly,
and express yourself fearlessly.
May you fight for and win a borderless world,
with equality and dignity for all.
This content downloaded from
128.59.222.107 on Thu, 27 Aug 2020 22:50:32 UTC
All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms
This content downloaded from
128.59.222.107 on Thu, 27 Aug 2020 22:50:32 UTC
All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms
Contents
List of Illustrations ix
Preface: A Watermelon Democracy xi
Acknowledgments xix
Introduction
What If . . . 1
1. Retiring Mubarak
Protests, Opposition Relations,
and Incumbent Ejection 24
2. Electoral Recalibration?
Transitional Elections and Disempowerment 55
3. State Violence as Life
Regime-Making and Counterrevolution 95
4. An Uprising against Neoliberalism?
The State, Military Inc., and the Political
Economy of Egypt 124
Conclusion
No Going Back 160
Notes 183
Bibliography 223
Index 239
This content downloaded from
128.59.222.107 on Thu, 27 Aug 2020 22:50:31 UTC
All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms
This content downloaded from
128.59.222.107 on Thu, 27 Aug 2020 22:50:31 UTC
All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms
Illustrations
1. Petrol, foreign aid, and Suez Canal revenues, 2002–16 129
2. Public expenditure and revenue trends, 2002–16 136
3. Public expenditure and revenue trends, 2002–15 137
4. Breakdown of Egypt’s expenditures by category, 2002–16 138
ix
This content downloaded from
128.59.222.107 on Thu, 27 Aug 2020 22:50:33 UTC
All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms
