Transition in Egypt: temptations that need to be resisted

The final destination of this transition still seems to be democracy, but the former term is not always accompanied by the latter; the reference to variable time scales according to local conditions and the warnings against chaos favouring the advent of new authoritarians leave additional doubts about the extent of the transformation that is envisaged.

In general terms the objective no doubt corresponds to the wishes and objectives of most Egyptians including protestors, by-standers and those pro-regime constituencies that have resigned themselves to a degree of change. Combined with transition, order seems preferable to open political conflict, chaos, violence and lawlessness. The increasing number and intensity of contacts between representatives of the regime and parts of the opposition may be read as the expression of a shared wish and will to end the current impasse and to embark on such a transition.