Counterrevolution in Egypt: How Sisi broke the dream of a new republic

Counterrevolution in Egypt: How Sisi broke the dream of a new republic Submitted by Hossam el-Hamalawy on Fri, 04/24/2026 - 09:51 In his latest book, Egyptian writer Hossam el-Hamalawy explores how the collapse of the Mubarak government gave way to a new style of dictatorship An Egyptian military helicopter flies over a rally on 7 July 2013 in Cairo's Tahrir Square (AFP) Off When Egyptians rose up in against the rule of Hosni Mubarak in 2011, many of us believed we were living through the end of a dictatorship. Fifteen years later, it is clearer than ever that what followed was not simply the return of the old regime. Egypt’s counterrevolution did not restore Mubarakism.