The impact of colonialism on the current state of politics and economy of Egypt

This paper discusses the impact of British colonialism on the legal system of Egypt and its development. During the height of British imperialism, Egypt was at a crossroads transferring from one empire to another; this concluded with the British occupation of 1882. This forced occupation has had many implications, but the one that can still be felt the most is the legal changes that occurred. Before the occupation, Egypt was facing tremendous debt and understood that it would be a matter of time before they are occupied by one of their creditors. Egypt thus began a legal reform process, which led to the adoption of a new legal code based on the Napoleonic code. This work combines events and resources in order to demonstrate the relationship between British colonialism and the development of the Egyptian legal system. This work shows that the way imperialism affected the development of the legal system was somewhat unique, as Egypt did wind up with a European system, the government did so at their own will, rather than by coercion from the imperial forces. Egypt shows that codification, and legal reform, although deemed as tools of imperialism, could be used to counteract even further interference. Key Words: Egypt, Colonialism, Independence, Legal codes, Judicial System, British Empire, Nationalism