4 ways Mohamed Morsi can push Egypt toward democracy

Despite inaugurating its first democratically elected president, the country is still controlled by the military. Will Morsi change that?

Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi is presented with the military's highest honor, the "shield of Armed Forces," following his inauguration Saturday.
(Image credit: AP Photo/Egyptian Presidency)

This weekend, Mohamed Morsi was sworn in as Egypt's first-ever democratically elected president, declaring that "the Egyptian people have established a new life, with real freedom and real democracy." However, the moment's historical import was hollowed by recent moves by the military to strengthen its own hold on power. After a military-backed court dissolved parliament in June, the army took control of the legislative process and the drafting of Egypt's new constitution. In addition, military leaders are in charge of the country's security forces and major sectors of the economy. Still, many analysts say Morsi and his former party, the Muslim Brotherhood, have enough popular appeal to chip away at the army's supremacy and make Egypt more democratic. Here, four ways Morsi can bring true democracy to Egypt:

1. Deliver on his promises of stability and economic growth

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