Bloomberg View: Egypt Doesn't Need a Second Revolution

As this magazine goes to press, vast numbers of Egyptians are demanding the resignation of their president for the second time since 2011. The Arab world’s most populous nation does need urgent change, but it doesn’t need another revolution.

President Mohamed Mursi’s tenure has been, in a word, disastrous. During his year in power, Mursi has failed not only to elaborate a plausible economic program but also to govern for all Egyptians. His only significant success came early in his presidency, when he outmaneuvered the military, sidelining the institution as a force in civilian politics. This important achievement could be undone if Mursi is ejected from power. Generals—as Pakistanis, Turks, and others will attest—can do more damage to democratic and economic progress than an incompetent civilian leader. They are also harder to remove.