Dr Hala Mustafa, editor-in-chief of a Cairo-based publication on democracy, argues that the choice between authoritarianism and Islamism in Egypt is a false one. She argues in favour of a third way, which is that of strengthening liberal democrats - and not just the democratic process.

Egypt has a liberal tradition with origins in the 1923 Constitution, parts of which are still to be found in the current Constitution, turning it into an incoherent mosaic. The current political stagnation in Egypt is due to the regime's inability to move from one party rule to multi-party pluralism.

Dr Mustafa claims that to compete with the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood for public support, the political establishment in Egypt has increasingly shifted towards enacting Islamic laws but in so doing it has restricted the rights of women and minorities.

Islamists need not be 'contained' in this manner and they can nevertheless be integrated in the political establishment if the Turkish constitutional structure of a secular state is adopted in Egypt. This entails limiting the power of the Sharia and allowing more diversity to flourish.

Liberalise the political elites, free the media, empower women and revise the role of the security apparatus in political life and things will gradually improve in Egypt.

The Muslim Brotherhood is the only political force in Egypt that is capable of seriously challenging the government. That is why the people turn to it. But if liberals were to be strengthened, then people will find a strong political force around which to rally

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