Egypt's Fragmenting Islamist and Secular Camps

The return of protests to Egypt is a sign of potential trouble for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's military-backed government, especially in the lead up to parliamentary elections in March 2015. As long as Cairo can maintain the current ideological polarization in the country, it does not face any significant threat. The government benefits from tension between Islamists and secularists and among various Islamist movements. However, the fragmentation of the secularist camp risks a realignment of Egypt's cross-ideological, pro-democracy forces.