David Sims

Development or Disaster?

Egypt's Desert Dreams

Bassel Katamish

An excellent review and analysis of Egypt’s desert expansion projects over the last 5 decades. Sims dismantles the prevailing myth that the cure-all solution to Egypt’s population growth and economic troubles lies in the country’s deserts. 

We are left with quite a bleak picture: the challenges facing Egypt are extremely difficult and require careful analysis, creative solutions and the concentrated and efficient efforts of the people in charge. But instead of serious management, we have ignorance, incompetence and even worse: corruption and crony-capitalism. The author does not shy away from making this painfully clear: desert development is the playground of the rich; for the rich, by the rich.

The book is quite technical at times, and the final chapter that discusses possible fixes is a bit too short, but these are minor complaints.

Egypt's Desert Dreams Development or Disaster?

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