By: Nicolas Saravia / Staff Writer
Since Jan. 25, a sizable crowd of Egyptians have taken to the streets, demanding political and economic change, including the fall of the regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Sharing the insights of a panel of experts on the Middle East, the School of International Relations and Public Affairs held a teach-in on Feb. 7 to a crowd of hundreds in the Graham Center Ballrooms focusing on the historical, influential and demographic aspects of the ongoing protests.
The panel was composed of political science and international relations Professors Majid Al-Khalili, John Clark, Shlomi Dinar, Russell Lucas, Charles MacDonald, Mohiaddin Mesbahi and modern languages Professor Maya Boutaghou.
Lucas began the discussion with a historical background of Egypt. As described, post-colonial Egypt has had a total of four presidents, Muhammad Naguib, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak, who has held office since October of 1981.
Lucas described Nasser as an anti-colonial classic populist, while Sadat made peace with Israel and held an open-door development approach, which according to the professor, “only made the rich richer and the poor poorer.”
Mubarak, of Air Force background, has been reelected four times as Egypt’s maximum authority. In 2005, he was reelected with a vast majority of votes, considered to be questionable.
Lucas also highlighted population issues currently affecting the North African country, mentioning that one-third of Egyptians are below the age of fifteen.
Also mentioned was the high density of the Cairo metropolitan area.
“Think of the entire population of the state of Florida crammed into South Florida,” said Lucas.
Delving into the influence of Maghreb countries on Egypt, Boutaghou continued the discussion by explaining similar trends that have occurred in the region.
“In 1989, Algeria had the same kind of riots, after which it opened to a multiparty system,” said Boutaghou. “Egypt is no longer the leader. Tunisia is reconfiguring the political structure of the Arab World. Tunisia is showing the path to democracy.”
Dinar remarked on the contrast between the youth in America and Europe, reflecting on the impact that the youth demographic has had in several countries in the Middle East, including Yemen, Oman and Egypt.
“The opposite from the United States and Europe occurs,” said Dinar. “Youth development is key to the discussion of transition and the future of our policies. The youth has to be part of the equation.”
A major concern raised during the teach-in was the extent to which these protests could influence the rest of the Arab World.
“I do not see an impact in Saudi Arabia, Oman or Bahrain. They have no real culture of protests,” explained Al-Khalili. “I do not see it happening in Syria either, as Syrians and Iraqi refugees have been traumatized by the violence in Iraq.”
Another aspect of the protests, which has gained much attention in the media, is the use of social networking sites as a forum of expression against the authorities and to organize protest meeting points.
“I have been to Egypt several times and never expected this reaction. The youth of Facebook has proven me wrong,” said Al-Khalili.
Regarding the future of Egypt’s democracy, there remains an ambience of uncertainty.
“It can be pro democracy, yet it might not turn to be American democracy,” said MacDonald. “The truth needs to be pursued, but it will not be easy to understand” he added.
During the question and answer session held immediately after the panel’s opening remarks, U.S. interventionism became a major topic of discussion.
“The United States’ policy shows that Obama has ideas but no team,” said Mesbahi, while Clark mentioned that “the fewer roles the United States plays in this issue, the better.”
The teach-in was well received by those in attendance, some of whom were eager to learn more about the ongoing protests.
“I haven’t researched about the protests, so this event was a wake-up call. I had noticed the struggle on Facebook and all that is going on shows older generations that the youth knows what is going on,” said Cinthia Sacasa, an International Relations major and freshman.
The call for change is also felt among some members of the Egyptian Diaspora at the University.
“Mubarak’s regime has to end right now. He is putting all kinds of pressure on Egyptians these days to gain more time,” said Ahmed Al-Tallawi, an Egyptian engineering student. “Unfortunately, some of his tricks worked.”
Al-Tallawi argues that for Egyptians to counter Mubarak’s attempts to gain more time, protesters must not let up.
“Some people have sympathy for him now and they say he should leave with dignity, even after all he did. Protesters have to continue what they have started,” said Al-Tallawi.
Nicolas Saravia works as a Beat Writer, covering the School of International and Public Affairs and the College of Law for The Beacon.
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