The Paradoxes of the Welfare State in Egypt: Constructing a Welfare State through Legitimacy

Document Type : Original Article

Author

New Giza University Faculty of Economics and Politics

Abstract

Social policies in Egypt have been an integral part in the institutionalization of the welfare state since the 19th century. It is argued that high levels of legitimacy could only be achieved through the expansion in social policies’ expenditures. The research paper investigates the existence of a welfare state in Egypt, and its relationship to legitimacy from 2013- 2023. The paper argues that welfarism require a liberal democratic context to be developed. Social expenditures are not a sufficient prerequisite for establishing a welfare state. The first part discusses conceptual issues related to welfarism and relationship to achieving legitimacy. The second part analyses the implemented welfare policies by the state during the period 2013-2023 and draws on historical comparisons of welfare policies during different political regimes pre- and post-independence of Egypt in 1952. The third part examines the formation and transformation of welfare provisions in Egypt, the continuity and change in the welfare system focusing on the period between 2013-2023.The fourth part analyzes the questionnaire results that was addressed to fifty-seven policy and decision makers. The questionnaire results and the research analyses conclude that Egypt does not have a clear philosophy on welfarism. What exists is a quasy welfare state, or in other words a non- mature welfare state. The research concluded that the Egyptian government's social policies and welfare approaches are still beset by a number of issues, including weak democratic practices and non- inclusiveness.

Keywords

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics