Vigilantism is on the rise throughout Egypt as the economy contracts, political legitimacy crumbles, and security deteriorates. The quotes assembled by Bloomberg for their story on the dynamic are… stark

“Fear is big business nowadays,” Hussein said. “People buy the guns because they’re afraid. People buy the guns because they want to scare others. We’re in a jungle now.”… A growing number of Egyptians think that “you can actually achieve your goals using violence,” said Ezzedine Choukri Fishere, a political scientist at the American University in Cairo. Beneath that lies the “dashed expectation and hope of the youth,” he said.

The lack of personal and local security in turn is preventing Cairo from stabilizing the Egyptian economy and building political popularity. The result has been a downward spiral of economic turmoil driven by a lack of security, and a lack of security preventing economic stabilization. Brawls as lines for subsidized fuel have grown.

The unrest is occuring against the backdrop of increased tensions between Egyptian security forces and Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood-government. Despite the government’s lack of popularity, Islamists have been making steady moves to consolidate control over Egypt. Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi this week reshuffled his cabinet to strengthen the role played by Muslim Brotherhood officials:

Members of the opposition had demanded that Mr. Morsi form a more inclusive government—one including liberals, moderates, Coptic Christians and women—ahead of parliamentary elections due to take place this year. They also sought the removal of Prime Minister Hisham Qandil, who is viewed by his critics as lacking political experience and charisma.

But Mr. Qandil retained his post in the shuffle, helping to form the new cabinet that includes 10 officials belonging to the ruling Freedom and Justice Party, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. Eight of 35 ministers in the previous government were FJP members. Many of the cabinet’s non-FJP ministers are also seen as allied with the president and the Brotherhood. No opposition members were named to the cabinet. The ministers of information and education, both Muslim Brotherhood members, retained their posts, as did the controversial interior minister, whose ouster had been sought by opponents.

Analysts have long noted that though the Muslim Brotherhood seems unable to secure political legitimacy or deliver on its economic promises, there is no credible electoral challenger to the group inside Egypt.

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