ABSTRACT
Because elite conflict between Islamic elites in the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), secular liberal elites in the Wafd, and secular nationalist elites in government was so violent and endemic, neither democracy nor development ever had a chance in Egypt. In the face of recurrent elite conflict, governing elites made two critical mistakes. They vacillated between nurturing and crushing the MB engendering a subversive, violent brand of Islam that threatened ruling elites, all but dooming any chance for cooperation on a democracy project. Governing autocratic elites responded to these threats by incorporating the masses into their state building and development strategy, dooming prospects for elite cooperation on a viable development strategy. Once the MB captured both the parliament and the presidency, liberal elites in the Wafd, and autocratic governing elites worked to overthrow Egypt’s first democratically elected government leaving Egypt with a brutal autocracy and underdevelopment.
