ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that the nature of coalitions forged under Mubarak: pragmatic, tactical and short-term, while serving an essential function of allowing broad mobilization under a repressive regime, was of little value for the formation of a sustainable revolutionary coalition after the uprising. It also examines the conditions under which disparate political groups such as elements of the left, Islamists, Nasserists and liberals attempted to work during Mubarak historical period and how the global, regional and local contexts engendered new strategies including tactical cooperation with 'historical enemies'. The chapter then focuses on the pro-democracy movement, where such cooperation dominated, rather than labour protests and other forms of activism. It further traces the history of the strategy and locates it within current debates on the potential course of Egypt's revolutionary process. It subsequently formed the Tayaar Masry political party and participated in the 2012 elections as part of the Revolution Continues coalition.
