Proposal Section
The cultural, political, economic, environmental and demographic processes interlink to result in a very unique character of a place. In addition, these processes operating in the local place interact with others operating on a global scope so that the place is therefore integrated into the world. The most important thing to consider is that the global and the local factors will affect the local place depending on how influential or dominating they are over one another.
Besides the demographic factors favorable to the Egyptian country, there are some of the environmental challenges that have been encountered. These challenges are also evident in other countries in the world and therefore not new in the global set up. They include the loosing of agricultural land to urbanization and windblown sands. Marine habitats, beaches, and coral reefs have been threatened by oil pollution. The natural resources, including the Nile river, has been overstrained by the growing population, while man’s activity has increased water pollution through pesticide use, industrial effluents, among other pollutants (CIA World Factbook, 2009). Air, water and soil pollution, which has been aggravated by the human activities such as farming and urbanization, have resulted to health problems. Global problems related to environmental challenges such as those experienced in Egypt, have been witnessed elsewhere. These connect Egypt to the processes which focus on the global reduction of pollution to take care, for example, of global warming. There have also been efforts to reduce global warming which may help local countries to address the difficulties too.
Egypt is governed by a constitution which declares a democratic system and the country’s political system as well as the public authorities. The president has executive authorities and is elected by people through voting. In addition, the president is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. The prime minister who supervises the work of the government heads the cabinet.
The Egypt’s political system has more than one political party. The people’s assembly (Majlis al-Cha’b) performs the legislative job, and consists of 444 directly elected and 10 members appointed by the president. Election is done after every five years. There is a consultative council within the parliament which advices, proposes new laws and regulations to the People’s Assembly, and also offers consultation.
The country’s legal system comprise of Islamic law and civil codes blended together and constituted by four categories of justice, the highest being the Supreme Constitutional Court, then the Court of Cessation, the seven courts of Appeal in the various Governorates and then the Summary Tribunals in the district. Political reforms that have been tried in Egypt include media freedom, representation of political parties, independence of judiciary, improved civil society, and the freedom in expression. Egypt has offered a place for women to hold position as cabinet members as well as have the right to vote.
The Egyptian foreign policy has focused issues such as peace in the Middle East, its regional and international relations, promoting of Arab cooperation in all fields, participation in international organization to promote peace and stability as well as cooperation and its indispensable role as a partner of the United States. This has boosted the integration of Egypt into the world processes such as economic developments.
Annotated Bibliography
Antonio, M. (ed.). Environmental Challenges in the Mediterranean 2000-2050, 331-344. Antonio, B., and Antonio, M. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004
The demographic factors are very important in the success of a country. They pertains the population, mortality and birth rates, rate of increase among other things. The environmental factors surrounding a country are important also in the excellence of the country. They dictate the strategic-being of a country in terms of trade, environmental factors, agriculture, and other activities essential for the economy. According to this author, globalization process has facilitated the importance of the issues affecting global humanity particularly environmental risks and hazards. The geographical location of Egypt has been vital to its economy in the focus of participation of agriculture. In particular, river Nile has played a key role in the irrigation practice of Egypt and hence boosted the economy of the country due to export of commodities. The population has also played an important role in the participation of economic activities. Egypt realized an annual population growth of 2.22% between 1981/82 and 1999/2000 (Antonio, 2004). In the same period, the number of workforce realized an annual growth of 2.98%.
Daly, M., and Carl, P. The Cambridge history of Egypt. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998
Egypt was strategic and of economic importance to the Ottoman Empire in the rule. It was and important base for operations in Ethiopia, Yemen, Hijaz and in the Red Sea. A series of demographic, fiscal and military transformations were undertaken in the course of seventeenth century. The economic and military crisis within the empire triggered migrations within. The Ottoman Empire had an influence of the Egyptian religious and educational institutions although they retained a separate status in the seventeenth century. Egypt also happened to be at the center of the European strategic planning in the eighteenth century mostly because of its unique geographic positioning. During this time, Egypt performed best in terms of richest province within Ottoman, as it retained its economy. It also distributed crop produce such as sugar, rice, wheat and others to the various regions of the Ottoman Empire. The integration of Egypt into the world economic has been gradual for example it begun its linkage with the European partners after the eighteenth century crisis (Daly & Carl, 1998).
Egypt largely depends on the sale of oil and gas, agriculture, tourism, construction, and manufacturing for its economic progress. Economic reforms such as increasing productivity and production, doubling exports and curbing imports have been launched in the past to help the country in its economic agenda (Egyptian Embassy in D.C., 2008). The country’s economy has grown to become the second largest in the Middle East and North Africa, and reforms that have been tried aims at eleviation of poverty, improvements of the standards of living, reduction of unemployment, and gaining financial and monetary stability. More specifically, price deregulation, exchange liberalization, and monetary tightening, were given a focus. Egypt has enjoyed a privately led economy that is liberal, full-fledged and market-based. Efforts to improve the business climate have there before been focused at streamlining procedures, dismantling the bureaucratic barriers and to rebuild and consolidate the infrastructure. The country has improved trade relations with countries like the U.S. which has assisted the country in its economic agenda. Foreign investors received national treatment through the adoption of the provisions of the Investment Law No. 8. The country has improved the business climate necessary for foreign investors (Egyptian Embassy in D.C., 2008). The country’s economy can be gauged by a nu9mber of economic indicators such as inflation rates, external transactions, indicators at the market, energy sectors, among others (The Egyptian Cabinet, 2009).
Fahmy, N. Egypt’s Unwavering Path to Democratic Reform. Mediterranean Quarterly 2006 17(3):1-11
The central geographical location of Egypt has played a role in the human’s development overtime. The country has had a pivotal role in the human civilization in history and has had to embrace people of foreign cultures (Fahmy, 2006). Egypt has played a role in the development of the neighboring Middle East Countries in terms of culture, political and social aspects (Fahmy, 2006). The needs to solve local challenges that are experienced in the country, in my view, have connected it to the rest of the globe as interest in their implementation is realized.
Spielvogel, J. Western Civilization: To 1500, Volume 1. 7th Ed: Sengage Learning, 2009
The Egyptian’s spiritual practice in history influenced the morality of the people. The culture of the people has been instrumental, with the focus on the pyramid structures, which also demonstrate a skill special from the world inhibitors. These structures have been expressed as indicators of the presence of the divine. The Egyptian society was merged with its religious taste. With a taste of the worship of gods, Egyptian myths hold that Osiris, the river deity, was central to the Egyptian civilization (Spielvogel, 2009). Pyramids, which have exemplified to the world of the skill of the Egyptians, were cities of the dead and dedicated to the dead. Art and writing have been used in Egypt for performance of rituals and observed a particular characteristic-form and presentation. The writing of the literature on papyrus and wooden carvings has played a vital role in the world literature (Spielvogel, 2009).
References
Antonio, M. (ed.). Environmental Challenges in the Mediterranean 2000-2050, 331-344. Antonio, B., and Antonio, M. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004
CIA World Factbook. Egypt Environment-current issues. 2009. Web.
Daly, M., and Carl, P. The Cambridge history of Egypt. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998
Egyptian Embassy in D.C. (2008). Web.
Fahmy, N. Egypt’s Unwavering Path to Democratic Reform. Mediterranean Quarterly 2006 17(3):1-11.
Spielvogel, J. Western Civilization: To 1500, Volume 1. 7th Ed: Sengage Learning, 2009.
The Egyptian Cabinet. Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC). Economic & Social Indicators Bulletin of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Economic and Social Indicators Bulletin of the Arab Republic of Egypt. 2009. Vol. 18 (202). Web.