Blog Post #9 Current Events

Current Events Blog Post:

Research a current event online and compose a blog post that briefly describes the event as well as your reaction to or opinion on what has occurred.

• Your blog post should be between 250 and 300 words. You will need to make choices about what to include and what to exclude in order to best communicate your stance.
• Since you are commenting on an online article, you must also cite your source and link to the article in your blog post.
• Even if your reaction to the current event is angry or emotional, remember to keep your language professional and the content appropriate.

The Old Order Stifles the Birth of a New Egypt

The article describes the current political situation in Egypt after the end of President Mubarak’s regime. Currently, there is massive unrest over what many Egyptians feel to be a botched transition from rigid autocracy to a supposed democracy which the military was supposed to facilitate. Instead, the military, in particular Field Marshal Tantawi, has assumed control of the government and is disinclined to turn over that control to civilian leaders. At the same time Egyptian civilians are distraught but relatively leaderless. The various civilian political groups have been unable to establish firm leadership of the people of Egypt. As the situation continues to degrade the military has taken multiple and unsuccessful steps to divert the blame of its perceived betrayal on the part of the citizens of Egypt.

I am unsurprised by this turn of events. Mubarak’s regime was strikingly similar to many other autocracies that have popped up in other parts of the world. All of these regimes tend to persist then fall apart under corruption and mismanagement leaving a framework of continual corruption, oppression, and entitlement. The fact that the military is resistant to relinquish power is also unsurprising. Often the military systems of autocracies are the means of control, and this control is incapable of meshing with the civilian democratic needs. I believe that Egypt will continue to experience unrest until the military leadership is either abolished or dissolved. In the meantime, protest will continue and more casualties will likely occur. Although this may seem a bleak outlook I would venture to say that it is a good chance for Egypt to achieve some real social growth, but it will be painful.

Works Cited:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/23/world/middleeast/vestiges-of-hosni-mubaraks-order-stifle-birth-of-new-egypt.html?pagewanted=1&ref=world