egypt and the new world

7/28/2019 Egypt and the New World

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The Egyptian thunderbolt: Beyond an Arab Spring

Dr. Walid Saba

[email protected]

Around 50 BC Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of ancient Egypt, sided with the Roman general Mark Antony in his

battle against his previous comrades that now rule Rome. Cleopatra convinced Antony that if they win they will

build an empire that will unite East and West, one that will unite North and

South. In short, they will build a world empire that unites all people and all

nations. This is how much Cleopatra saw the role of Egypt.

Over 2050 years later, Egypt, in my opinion, is again at a moment where it

could define the new world order. This time, however, without the help of

Roman generals and Roman soldiers. It is the Egyptian people themselves

that are now defining the new Egypt, and in the process, the new Middle

East and by extension the new world order. This might at first sound like an

exaggeration of the impact of changes that are happening in Egypt, but I do not believe so. In fact, I believe the

events that Egypt is witnessing are far more important than anyone has been able to fathom. Why so? Well, let us

first look at the many ‘firsts’ that the Egyptian people are making every day on the ground.

The first ‘first’

Unlike neighboring Tunisia, where also remarkable changes have been (and still are) happening, post monarchy

and post-colonial Egypt has always been effectively ruled by two strong forces: the army and Islam. Egypt is hometo Al Azhar Mosque and Al Azhar University, regarded as the foremost institution in the Islamic world for the

study of Sunni theology and sharia, or

Islamic law. Egypt is also the birth place

of the largest and most organized Islamic

movement in the world: the Muslim

Brotherhood. Yet, millions of Egyptians

have heroically revolted against an

elected president that represented the

highest symbol of political Islam. Millions

of y oung liberal, leftist and secularEgyptians have raised their voice against

theocratic Islam, demanding a civil and

just society for all Egyptians, of all ethnic

and religious backgrounds. For this to

happen in a country that has always been considered one of the pillars of Islam is a first that require respect and

admiration. This also demands a very careful analysis of what this implies about the nature and extent of a large,

well educated, progressive and revolutionary civil society that apparently does exist in Egyptian society.

mailto:[email protected]





The second ‘first’

Post-colonial Egypt, like we mentioned above, was also ruled by the

army. All three presidents up to Hosni Mubarak came from the army,

and the army has always been the real silent ruler in Egypt. In fact, the

military institution in Egypt was more in control of every aspect of

Egyptian rule than it was in more dictatorial regimes, such as Saddam’s

Iraq, and Assad’s Syria. Yet, millions of young Egyptians have forced that

huge military machine to step aside and not to interfere in the battle for

change. To be sure, the army did test the waters on more than one

occasion, but to their credit, they did so gently, and upon the realization

of the insistence of the Egyptian people for change, they wisely decided

not to take the wrong side in this battle. Again, the Egyptian people have

made a ‘first’ in silencing the most powerful military institution in the

Arab East. They did so by a fierce determination to make this inevitable

victory of civil society over military and autocratic and traditional rule.

The third ‘first’

Besides the military and autocratic Islam, Egypt is also the birth place of Arab Nationalism. This is the land of

Gamal Abdel Nasser, who, at one point in time, was the leader that millions of Arabs gathered around radios to

hear his speeches. Nasser’s popularity in the Arab world was unprecedented, and he was the inspiration of many

Arab national movements. These

movements had two main goals:

liberation from colonial rule and

control, and the “liberation of

Palestine”. Supporting the

Palestinian cause in their fight

against Israeli occupation was at the

center of Nasserism and Arab

nationalism. Yet, here again,

millions of young revolutionary

Egyptians have made another ‘first’:

Israel and the Palestinian cause

were not the cry of the day. There

was no ‘death to Israel’ and ‘death

to America’ in T ahreer Square. No

flag burning. No anti-colonial

slogans. No empty rhetoric! The cry of the day was: freedom, democracy and civil and just society! Millions of

revolutionary young Egyptians again shocked everyone with their unprecedented political maturity. Those brave

young Egyptians knew that a free, democratic and just society can in the end achieve all their aspirations,

including freedom from colonial and imperial control. But people’s power should first be achieved. This, in the

Arab world, is also a ‘first’.



The fourth ‘first’

Unlike the violence that other Arab revolutions have witnessed (Yemen, Syria, Libya), millions of young Egyptians

marched peacefully into the streets in a manner not witnessed even in large democracies (the fight for civil rights

in the US was much more violent!) Young Egyptians did not raise guns and sticks, but voices, flutes, ouds and

guitars. They read poetry and sang folk songs – Bob Dyaln would have been a star in Tahreer Square! They burned

not shops and government institutions, but made a fire that they gathered around singing and dreaming of a

better Egypt. No coups, no violent change, but peaceful and civilized tamarroud (rebellion!) – Another astonishing

and admirable ‘first’!

Everyone, except the Egyptians, is confused

With unprecedented determination, Egyptians seem to know exactly what they want and where they want to go,

and what kind of Egypt they want. Everyone else, however, is confused. The US, who made its best to absorb the

shock of overthrowing the Mubarak regime, must certainly be re-calculating its options. With the help of the old

military guard, aided by billions of Arab petro dollars, and with an apparent deal with Islamists, the US and itsallies managed, temporarily, to install a regime that is willing to play the same old games, both internally and

externally. Yet, the Egyptians have figured out the details of this deal in record time. Now there’s abundance of

confusion in the US, as well its Arab allies and regional allies (e.g., Turkey and Israel). Even supposed enemies of

the US are not very comfortable. Iran would certainly not like to see a truly democratic, secular, and just and

modern society in Egypt. Why? Because what is good for Egyptians will soon be good for the Iranian people!

What is happening in Egypt has far reaching effects than anyone dared to admit. Eyes might now be more focused

on the catastrophic events in Syria, but it will be what happens in Egypt that will have the last word in how that

crisis is resolved even that conflict. Ending Islamic and autocratic rule in the largest Arab world will also have an

impact on other regional powers, such as Israel, Iran, and Turkey.

Egypt is a country of over 80 million people with strategic, political and economic importance that has an effect

on the entire region and beyond. When a new, democratic, secular and modern Egypt is born (and the millions of

young revolutionaries spreading the streets seem determined it will!) the impact will be far reaching. Egypt is the

center of the Arab world, and like Egypt spread Arab Nationalism in the last century, it will now help spread the

winds of real change. This change will reach the entire East, and by extension it will define a new world.

Cleopatra might now be smiling: her Egypt is again at the center of world events!

egypt and the new world

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