Today’s world is dependent on an America that can rally around a compelling vision, adapt, and prosper again.

To gain the popular legitimacy needed for a sustained political transition, Egypt’s government will need to show progress on the economic front. What happens in Egypt is pivotal in determining the course of the rest of the region.

If the transition in Egypt succeeds and the country overcomes a number of economic obstacles and acquires a democratic, accountable, and efficient form of government, it is likely to become a stabilizing force in a turbulent region.

Although the situation in Libya has attracted international attention, it is Egypt that must succeed—economically, first and foremost—if democracy in the Middle East is to have a chance.