If the Arab uprisings have taught us anything, it is that the Arab public represents a formidable challenge to power elites. Grievances should not limit Egypt’s revolutionary camp at the expense of a proactive outreach to Arab societies, united in their anti-authoritarianism.
2013 has many surprises in store for Egypt.
2013 has many surprises in store for Egypt.
Amro Ali, one of Arab Awakening's columnists from Egypt, presents his personal approach to crafting and promoting his work as a guide for present and future openDemocracy columnists.
Amro Ali, one of Arab Awakening's columnists from Egypt, presents his personal approach to crafting and promoting his work as a guide for present and future openDemocracy columnists.
The question riding on the chaos being played out – from the burning offices of the Freedom and Justice Party to the squares of Egyptian cities to the palace gates of power – is how will all this shape future trends throughout the Arab world?
Morsi has shown that his policy on the Palestinians is no more imaginative than Mubarak-era policies and, partly as a result of US approval, he has undertaken a democratic rollback that has ignited Egypt’s streets.
Even before Islamists made their mark, the state oversaw how people thought, felt and behaved. This guiding philosophy of the Mubarak regime has been inherited by the Islamists – it is an insult to millions of Egyptians who detest the state for treating them as children.
In the midst of revolution, martyrs and icons can become potent symbols that strike deep at the heart of Arab regimes.
The Brotherhood should not delude themselves. The fact they have to bus in members from other governorates is the first clue that their strength is not in the urban heartlands.
You hear statements like, “I have a PhD in veterinary science, but I do know a bit about the changing Middle East socio-political landscape”.
Contrary to what media outlets reported and activists tweeted, the raid was nothing to do with Brotherhood censorship. But we must be vigilant, nevertheless.
