The role of the Egyptian military as an economic actor in business

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to examine the role of the Egyptian military as an economic actor in business. In Egypt, the military runs some important agricultural, industrial and infrastructure enterprises. The wellestablished business enterprises of the Egyptian military is one of the main pillars that sustain Mubarak regime. Understanding the role of the Egyptian military business within the framework of the relationship between Mubarak and the military provides the analysis with an important factor that sustains the authority of the Mubarak government within internal politics and casting light on the hegemonic relationship that international powers have established with Egypt regarding its external policy. First reviewing the literature of militarism on developmental role of the military, the study then focuses upon the political history of the country from both a politico-economic and a civil-military relations perspective. The study, then, explores the fields of activity of the Egyptian military business, focusing most importantly on the NSPO holding company that holds some of the main business enterprises. Lastly, the study analyzes the role of the military business in the country’s economy and its role within the relationship between the president and the military from an internal politics perspective, and the central role that Egypt plays within the status quo of Middle Eastern politics, the policy of the USA regarding Egypt’s role and the part that is played by the military business in this policy from an international politics perspective.