Egypt as a regional power

This thesis examines which characteristics of a regional power definition Egypt meets and which it does not. The basis of the thesis is a definition of regional power, which was created for the purpose of this thesis by synthesis of existing definitions. For the Middle East and Africa regions, the following points will be considered: regional affiliation, relatively large amounts of material and non-material resources, regional leadership including acceptance of obligations and recognition by other states, regional security agenda setting, role in regional and international organizations, and relations with world powers and regional powers. Egypt's role as a regional power in the Middle East is characterized by high foreign policy activity, significant demographic, military and soft power resources, and aspirations for the leadership role. On the other hand, the shortcomings are economic problems, the lack of a regional security concept, and the failure to be recognized as the regional leader. Egypt's position as a regional power in Africa is characterised by its dominance in the possession of all types of power resources, its activity in regional organisations and its recognised leadership role. However, the problem is the lack of interest in the region in Egyptian foreign policy. The main findings are which characteristics of the definition of regional power are fulfilled by Egypt. At the same time, a difference in the attention that Egypt pays to the two regions was observed. While it is relatively more difficult to obtain regional power status in the Middle East, Egypt pays much more effort to attain it in this region than it does in Africa, where it is relatively easier to acquire. In the Middle East, Egypt is prevented from consolidating its role as a regional power because of its economic problems, but in Africa it is because of its low foreign policy activity.