Newswise — Though Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will likely win a fifth, six-year term of office when his country holds its first-ever contested elections today, the vote nevertheless illustrates that the Middle Eastern nation — and the Arab world in general — is interested in political reform, according to Mustapha K. Al-Sayyid, Hughes Chair of Social Sciences at Colgate University. In May, an Egyptian national referendum approved a constitutional amendment that changed the presidential election to a multi-candidate popular vote. (Previously, the president was nominated by the People's Assembly, and the nomination was validated by a national, popular referendum.) Mubarak is running against nine other politicians this time, but experts predict that he will probably win the contest easily.
Still, the vote is significant for several reasons, said Al-Sayyid. "Since the passage of the constitutional amendment in May, there has much public debate and dialogue about Mubarak and about the election process, and an unprecedented surge in freedom of expression in the country," he explained. "The fact that Egypt, one of the largest nations in the Middle East, is having contested elections today just shows how interested the Arab world is in political reform and democracy."
In addition to his position at Colgate, Al-Sayyid serves as a professor of political science and director of the Center for the Study of Developing Countries at Cairo University. He has authored many books and articles on Egypt's political system, including "Society and Politics in Egypt: The Role of Interest Groups in the Egyptian Political System," and "Perceptions of Multipartyism by Opposition Leaders in Egypt," among others.
Founded in 1819, Colgate University is a highly selective, residential, liberal arts college enrolling nearly 2,750 undergraduates. Situated on a rolling 515-acre campus in central New York State, Colgate University attracts motivated students with diverse backgrounds, interests and talents.
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