February 5th, 2011 in All Stories / Features
Erica Charves
The world is watching Egypt fall to protests as the streets of Cairo and Alexandria fill with people calling for change.
The Middle East is on fire; in Tunisia, the president resigned after 29 days of rioting. This “Jasmine Revolution” has spread from Tunisia across North Africa to Egypt, Yemen, Algeria, Sudan, Jordan and Morocco. Egypt is front and center in this maelstrom.
Despite what some may say, this is not another Islamic revolution. There is nothing wrong with religious people acting for civic engagement and civil rights, but these protests are not religious in nature. Egyptians are fed up with a 30-year-old military regime that does not deliver economic prosperity with job security, is plagued by rigged elections and oppresses its political opponents.
Protests began in Egypt on Jan. 25 and have continued since, resulting in a near blackout condition in which Twitter and Facebook were blocked and people were subjected to a 3 p.m. to 7 a.m curfew. By Jan. 28, the entire Egyptian Internet was shut down, police were absent in Cairo, looting began and residents organized nightly neighborhood watch groups to protect one another. Tanks and soldiers filled the streets, while thousands of protesters gathered by day, and broke curfew at night.
We Didn’t Start the Fire
It is easy to understand the angst and desperation that ignited this revolution. In a country where the median age is 25, the average citizen has lived his whole life under the authoritarian regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who came to power in 1981.
The youthful obsession with social media, texting and video sharing has spread news of the revolt in Egypt, regardless of the media blackout Mubarak attempted. The Internet increased the heat placed on Mubarak and his administration, while crowds grew in the streets of Cairo, Alexandria and Suez.
The lawlessness and revolt reported by clandestine photos and texts in the streets will have a major
political effect on Arab nations, as well as the world economy. These protests have inspired youth from Morocco and Yemen to speak out against unchecked authoritarian power.
These are self-driven revolts, where citizens claim their own civil liberties, such as free speech and self-determination. Yet freedom is never without cost—the tradeoff should be analyzed.
Fanning Flames of Democracy or Religious Ideology
Meanwhile, Western powers, particularly the United States, fear that these protests contain the threat of Islamic radicalism. They fear that, should Mubarak resign, a faction like the Muslim Brotherhood would ascend to power. While the Muslim Brotherhood is Egypt’s largest opposition group, they have in the past won only about 20 percent of parliamentary votes.
The media shows pictures of prayer in the streets to imply that Muslim extremists are leading the revolt, but implication is unfounded. Communal prayer is essential to Muslim daily life, and in a time of turmoil, praying in front of tanks is an act of peaceful protest. Allegations that the Muslim Brotherhood was involved in promoting the protests are false. They did not become involved until a few days into the revolt when they encouraged members to take part following Friday prayer services.
Democratic reform will bring the vote of the people, and that may mean electing political parties that do not fit with U.S. interests. In recent years, elections in Palestine and Lebanon brought to power Hamas and Hezbollah, both of which the U.S. considers terrorist organizations. In Gaza, Hamas has a military wing, which has encouraged firing rockets into Israel and suicide bombings. However, it’s unreasonable to believe that when nations vote, they will automatically elect our allies, and not those who are critical of U.S. foreign policy and Israel.
Fear is no reason to exclude the Muslim Brotherhood, which is distinctly different than Hamas in history and practice. They did not begin as a military organization, nor do they deny the existence of Israel. They do strongly criticize Israel and its policies in relationship to Palestine, but that is not unusual in the region.
The Muslim Brotherhood understands the need for better national leadership, demonstrated by their choice of candidate endorsement—Mohammed ElBaradei, a secular Nobel Peace Prize winner and founder of a democratic reform organization. He has returned to Egypt, and his resume boasts years of advocating for nuclear nonproliferation internationally, and lecturing at Ivy League universities while living in the U.S. for 15 years. He supports a free press and an independent legal system, which could balance out the fears of those who are wary of the Muslim Brotherhood. He has not declared any interest in the presidency, but rather of supporting the Egyptian people.
If Your Neighbor’s House is on Fire
Unrest and protest in the streets is a temporary situation, and although the U.S. Embassy advised Americans to leave Egypt, travel to one of the oldest and most well-known civilizations will resume once the current revolt is over. Nevertheless, the effects of these days of protest will be long lasting.
The U.S. government issued its statements close to the cuff by encouraging calm and respecting freedom of assembly, while avoiding statements that their associate, Mubarak, should leave. Although the government upholds citizens’ rights, a drastic destabilization of Egypt could affect relations with America, including Israel-Palestine peace talks, which previously took place in Egypt.
Economies worldwide will be affected because of the Suez Canal, a waterway running through Egypt which delivers 2 million barrels of oil per day and a large portion of ocean transport, key to trading goods. This direct route to Europe and the Mediterranean cuts out the costly 6,000-mile trip around Africa.
If Mubarak leaves, the situation will certainly spread to nearby nations who have already seen protests. Democratic reform, however, is not as simple as a mere election process, as we have seen in Iraq, Lebanon and other Middle Eastern nations. Democracy must include a framework and a solid foundation of respecting citizens’ rights.
If the U.S. values the spread of democracy, it should embrace a new era. The social media-engaged youth care about their civil liberties and the kind of government they live under, which will be responsive to their concerns while improving the economy and serving the public. The Internet allows the exchange of information with rapid speed, and also functions as a tool to remind the U.S. how connected we all really are. When politics can be impacted by young people who organize demonstrations online, the power structure in autocratic nations may face a difficult foe.
You can download the entire magazine here or find it online along with other articles at www.portlandspectator.org
0 comments:
Post a Comment