By Karima Ragab, Nushka Gatwary and Youmna El Sherbiny
CAIRO, Egypt- The Middle East Studies Center welcomed Journalist and Political Analyst Issandr El Armani to discuss the contagion of the revolution to the contagion of polarization in the Middle East and specifically in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.
The
lecture was hosted in The American University in Cairo last Wednesday in the
Alsaud Hall. Sherene Seikaly, director of the Middle East Studies Center,
Assistant Professor Adam Talib as well as other students, staff and faculty
members attended the lecture.
El
Armani started off his lecture by explaining how his personal experiences and
insights enabled him to cover the succession of events taking place in the
Middle East clarifying his preference in using the term “Arab Uprisings”
instead of “Arab Spring.” “What happened in Tunisia didn’t stay in Tunisia and
what happened in Egypt didn’t stay in Egypt”, said El Armani confirming that
all countries are indirectly affected by one another.
Although
there was a contagion of revolution that was initiated by Tunisia in 2011,
there were many preconditions that led to these waves of protests not only
regionally, but domestically. For example, the issue of “tawreeth” which, in
Egypt’s case, meant the succession of Gamal Mubarak as president following the
footsteps of Hosny Mubarak.
The
main polarization in the three countries lies between the Islamists, liberals
and members of the former regime. There are many differences between those who
are called secularists and Islamists; for instance, the dilemma of judicial
system, the role of women and the interference of religion with the public
life. Accordingly, in Egypt’s case, the
issue of having an Islamic or Non- Islamic regime is highly questioned, as
Egypt is known for having a big Non-Islamists minority.
However, “Far from being an
ideological battle. It is also a battle of control of resources”, El Amrani
said. The three countries’ major concern is shifting to corporatism. For example,
Libya’s resource of oil which, clarifies why the Arab world perceives Libya as
a powerful country.
