There were underlying reasons for the Egyptian Revolution that
created a perfect storm for Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow:
corruption, unemployment, frustration, humiliation and restive
youth. However one factor not stated for the revolt is a
leadership deficit. President Hosni Mubarak was not a leader
with the inherent charisma to galvanise the population. It is a
problem that faces the entire region. I am not suggesting that
lack of leadership is the causal variable in the unrest that
began in Tunisia. Rather, it is the process of how leaders
emerge that serves as an important symbolic element. In the vast
majority of Arab states, leaders have emerged through military
or palace coups, or happened to be the leader of the strongest
tribe when colonial powers delineated the boundaries of the
Middle East. For example, both the late Hafiz al-Asad of Syria
and Hosni Mubarak rose to power due to their position as head of
the air force. It was their military post rather than a
plebiscite that propelled them to leadershi