Anwar Sadat was the President of Egypt between 1970 and his assassination in 1981. Sadat changed Egypt utterly during his time in power, recognising Israel and aligning with the US following the anti-colonial rule of Nasser.

The about-turns made by Sadat during his 11-year presidency make him one of the post-1945 World’s most controversial figures, and he ultimately paid for his cosying up to Israel with his life. But did his actions make Egypt more stable and more prosperous? This is the question at the heart of today's episode.

My guest for today’s conversation is Steven Cook. Steven is a senior fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, and he contributes regularly to publications such as Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy. He is also the author of many books, including False Dawn: Protest, Democracy and Violence in the New Middle East, released in 2017.