The Egyptian revolution of 2011 captivated the world and served as the focal point of the regional uprisings that have collectively come to be known as the Arab Spring. Even now the world waits to see whether the country's elections will aid the progress of liberal democracy or resurgent Islamism. In this essential study, Egyptian scholar Alaa Al-Din Arafat provides a comprehensive look at the political, diplomatic, religious, and socioeconomic factors that were at play in the time leading up to the protests that led to the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. This edition includes a new foreword that reflects on the developments of the last year, providing valuable new context and exploring possible future outcomes.