The ouster of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi by a military coup on July 3 is a double failure: a failure of governance by Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, and a failure for Egypt’s uncertain democratic transition.

Bassem Sabry, an advocate of democracy and national reconciliation, in a searching and profound essay describes how it “became more and more apparent that the Brotherhood was intent not on building a democratic administration but a new regime.”

Sabry describes Morsi’s dictatorial approach to the constitutional process; the assault on the separation of powers; the crackdown on the media; the appointment of political cronies; the marginalization of the Christian community and more, concluding: “This was a popular and genuine uprising against Morsi. These were undeniably the largest ever and the most self-driven protests in Egypt's history. Nonetheless, the role of the military and its actions surely give us cause for concern, and what became of the first civilian and democratically elected president is troubling. I wish all of this was different, and it would have been better for Egypt. The current transition has to move wisely, but quickly. Inclusion and civil cohesion must become the cornerstone of this process. Right now, I am of greater worry than I was in February 2011.”

Wael Nawara, co-founder of Al Dostor Party, the National Association for Change and El Ghad Party, argues that Morsi’s policies were an assault on Egyptian culture: