Constitutional Breakdowns in Revolutionary Outbreaks: A Legal Analysis and Political Reinterpretation of Mubarak’s Fall

Abstract It is not self-evident to associate revolution with law. The disruption of political order that usually underlies revolutionary outbreaks thought affect legal rules so they are no longer orienting actors. However, if law might be a source constraints, ontologically it more surely discursive register tied state’s legitimacy. When the control at stake, as in situation, one can therefore understand actors pay attention significance their actions. article will draw on this analyze Egyptian army’s arrival power and Mubarak’s departure during Revolution 25 January 2011. By framing acts ruptures constitutional legality (constitutional breakdowns), suggest richer nuanced narrative commonly put forth by literature. point institutional strategies likely underpinning both actors’ decisions show initial intervention resignation have been less definitive time. also new ways think about relation between politics. drawing notably an understanding system meaning from which make sense events act them, studies shed light moments beyond issue processes’ institutionalization.