GALAL AMIN is emeritus professor of economics at the American University in Cairo. He is the author of ‘Egypt in the Era of Hosni Mubarak’ (AUC Press, 2012), ‘Whatever Happened to the Egyptians?’ (AUC Press, 2000), ‘Whatever Else Happened to the Egyptians?’ (AUC Press, 2004), and ‘The Illusion of Progress in the Arab World’ (AUC Press, 2006). In 2010, he received the Sultan Bin Al Owais Cultural Foundation Award in recognition of his contributions to economics, politics, community and culture.