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Given the political instability in the region it just seems like a way to make life easier for looter in about 10 years.

labster 2y ago
Egypt is historically much more stable than its surrounding region, all the way back to the Late Bronze Age Collapse. A stable supply of water and being located at a center of intercontinental trade helps.
- littlestymaar 2y ago
  Didn't help during the Arab spring though…
  - sinaid 2y ago
    Suez crisis too
    - littlestymaar 2y ago
      Suez crisis ended with a tactical defeat of Egypt but a strategic victory over UK and France because both the URSS and the US told us to get home, so I don't think it's a very apt example.
  - labster 2y ago
    Compared to other outcomes of the Arab Spring, Egypt looks pretty good. They didn’t get a true democracy but at least the state is functional.
    - sinaid 2y ago
      Goalposts are getting tatty from being moved about so much.
- clwg 2y ago
  The water supply of the Nile is no longer as stable as it has historically been. Ethiopia's new dam threatens the downstream supply for Egypt and Sudan. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57734885 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57734885
- boringg 2y ago
  Yes compared to the rest of the region, not sure that's a great benchmark.
anonylizard 2y ago
It allows for looting the national treasury today. All large construction projects in Egypt go to the military first. Who then subcontracts it out, essentially paying the generals their cut. Hence why Egypt is building their new capital city, to placate the military elite. The new capital is also to riot proof their capital. Large dense cities are hard to defend with armies. Hence Myanmar doing the same, even China is building a mini capital to the south of their existing capital. That being said, this big museum does make sense. Egypt is tourism dependent, and it needs star attractions beyond the scammer infested pyramids. Egypt's reputation amongst tourists has taken a horrible dent due to the extreme concentration of street hagglers, and it needs all the help it can get.
- alephnerd 2y ago
  > The new capital is also to riot proof their capital. Large dense cities are hard to defend with armies Partially, but Cairo is also extremely extremely crowded. It's becoming an economic drag like Jakarta and Manila are in Indonesia and Philipines due to primary city syndrome. Most planned satellite cities in Egypt end up doing decently well like 6th of October, El Sheikh Zayed, New Cairo, El Sadat, 15th of May, Nasr City, Al Obour, Badr, 10th of Ramadan, etc. By moving the ministries and the capital, it helps reduce congestion and also makes it easier to expand out. It also spreads infra capital across 6-7 governates instead of just Cairo Governate.

labster 2y ago

Egypt is historically much more stable than its surrounding region, all the way back to the Late Bronze Age Collapse. A stable supply of water and being located at a center of intercontinental trade helps.

littlestymaar 2y ago
Didn't help during the Arab spring though…
- sinaid 2y ago
  Suez crisis too
  - littlestymaar 2y ago
    Suez crisis ended with a tactical defeat of Egypt but a strategic victory over UK and France because both the URSS and the US told us to get home, so I don't think it's a very apt example.
- labster 2y ago
  Compared to other outcomes of the Arab Spring, Egypt looks pretty good. They didn’t get a true democracy but at least the state is functional.
  - sinaid 2y ago
    Goalposts are getting tatty from being moved about so much.
clwg 2y ago
The water supply of the Nile is no longer as stable as it has historically been. Ethiopia's new dam threatens the downstream supply for Egypt and Sudan. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57734885 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57734885
boringg 2y ago
Yes compared to the rest of the region, not sure that's a great benchmark.

anonylizard 2y ago

It allows for looting the national treasury today. All large construction projects in Egypt go to the military first. Who then subcontracts it out, essentially paying the generals their cut. Hence why Egypt is building their new capital city, to placate the military elite. The new capital is also to riot proof their capital. Large dense cities are hard to defend with armies. Hence Myanmar doing the same, even China is building a mini capital to the south of their existing capital. That being said, this big museum does make sense. Egypt is tourism dependent, and it needs star attractions beyond the scammer infested pyramids. Egypt's reputation amongst tourists has taken a horrible dent due to the extreme concentration of street hagglers, and it needs all the help it can get.

alephnerd 2y ago
> The new capital is also to riot proof their capital. Large dense cities are hard to defend with armies Partially, but Cairo is also extremely extremely crowded. It's becoming an economic drag like Jakarta and Manila are in Indonesia and Philipines due to primary city syndrome. Most planned satellite cities in Egypt end up doing decently well like 6th of October, El Sheikh Zayed, New Cairo, El Sadat, 15th of May, Nasr City, Al Obour, Badr, 10th of Ramadan, etc. By moving the ministries and the capital, it helps reduce congestion and also makes it easier to expand out. It also spreads infra capital across 6-7 governates instead of just Cairo Governate.