United States Economic Assistance to Egypt: Does it Advance Reform?
” June 17, 2004 Testimony of Michele Dunne, Ph.D. Visiting Scholar, Democracy and Rule of Law Program The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me to testify. Having worked on democracy assistance to Egypt during assignments at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and National Security Council staff and then studied the issue from outside government, I welcome the opportunity to present my thoughts to you. With your permission, I will focus primarily on the impact of American assistance on the prospects for political (versus economic) reform. First, democracy assistance to Egypt can be effective only as part of a coherent policy strategy including active engagement with the Egyptian government on the structural changes in law and practice that political reform demands. The U.S. Agency for International Development’s programs have helped to build Egyptians’ ability to participate in a democratic system, but not their opportunit
