Egypt's Three Revolutions: The Force of History behind this Popular Uprising

Thanks you very much, I learned alot.

Excellent analysis ,especially of the present revolution . Wat concerns me is the sudden interest of the old line opposition parties . They wanted NOTHING to do with the protests until it became obvious that the protesters had gained the upper hand . I sincerely hope that the leading organisations of THIS revolution do not allow thes old line political opposition parties to pre-empt them, because they WILL sell you out if it to their political or economical advantage !!!

HOLD THE LINE AND NEVER GIVE UP

We Shall Overcome

Excellent article, thank you.

Very helpful! Superbly concise.

Extremely helpful! Thanks for using your expertise to contextualize the events so clearly!

Your article is well-written, informative, and most welcome.

I look forward to reading further of your writings.

Very informative!! Thanks.

This piece is the utmost sensible, comprehensive piece I've ever read since January 25th. And yes I am looking forward to read more of Omnia Shakry. Thank you very much.

A brief but very helpful article to place actuality in wider context. Thanks

Great and well studied. very interesting

Thanks. Did not do Nasserism any justice though.

This one is going on my syllabi: fabulously helpful historical context!

Omnia, I like your writing. It has depth and passion. I can smell the positive nativism. Also glad it was free from circuitous quoting (Bob quoting Peter who quoted Susan who got it from Bob) that besets Arab studies/commentary because few, very few can access primary sources because only a tiny number can read Arabic or understand spoken Arabic. Above all, I appreciate your coming around to describing Naasir as accurately as any leftist is ever able to. I still have some issues – mostly over your choice of some terms. The toppling of the cleptocratic dictatorship in Egypt was a bourgeois revolt for democracy and there’s nothing wrong with this. Will it move forward toward gender equality and politically sustainable economic growth or will it be stolen by the fascist Islamists? Will see. But let’s go back to history where we can see. My take on Naasir is less complex: the 1952 "thing" was a military coup that started a dictatorship that lasted from 1952 until 2011. It was not a revolution as you stated. Most certainly nothing to do with capitalism. Sadaat’s policies were as far from liberalism as can possibly be and his infitaah was simply the last stage of a dying socialist order not unlike the Chinese economic “miracle” or what the Castor family dictatorship is contemplating in Cuba. Hate or love capitalism or liberalism but accuracy is important. Your implying that there was a social contract [Faustian bargain] is grossly accusatory and, dare I say, a form of reverse lite orientalism. The Egyptian people were never asked, consulted, or thought about. That coerced exchange was dictatorship at its finest. The result was the cult of “firaakh al-gaam’iyaat al’ta’aawniyah”. Granted, the coup was against the illegal regime of king Farooq, but it was a classic military coup with its leader, Naasir, quickly dismissing his fellow conspirators and declaring himself a president for life (sounds familiar?). Naasir, retarded Egypt’s economic growth with laughable economic programs that patronized Egyptians to the point of reducing them to food consumers (recall the cult of “firaakh al-gaam’iyaat al’ta’aawniyah”). Worse, Naasir invaded Yemen thus prolonging its civil war and giving birth to Yemini fascism (sorry, meant to say Islamists). He actively destroyed democracy in Sudan and brought al-Nimairy to power who ended up chopping the limps of over 300 of the poorest human beings. He actively supported the Assad coup in Syria under which the Syrians still suffer. And, let’s not forget his protégé, al-Qazhaafy. A sick list of achievements (sic) for a revolutionary, wouldn’t you say? Third Worlders living in the West should not glorify despots back home by calling their military dictatorships anything but what they truly are: cleptocracies. It was my opinion 20 years ago and remains today: nothing is good about despots and little difference between left and right versions: all were/are crooks. The Castro family dictatorship in Cuba is little different from the family thieveries of the Gulf. Why do you think Hugo Chavez is supporting al-Qazhaafy? Or China defending al-Basheer, the butcher of Darfur? Two things prolonged these cleptocracies and distracted good people like you: Israeli right wingers & their myopic policies and Western complicity in the looting. Like I told you many years ago: maybe our fate is to fight at more than one front: we have to dislodge dictatorships back home; we have to defeat Islamist fascism; we have to change retarded cultures that oppress women & minorities; we have to stop Chinese lootism; and yes, we also have to resist Western imperialism, whether in its hard form of military power and thieving Swiss banking or in its soft imperialism form like aid and GOs (governmental organizations lovingly known as non-governmental organizations or NGOs or even more sickening “humanitarian agencies”). Not to mention the bitter Tea of domestic politics of the USA, the rise of racism and anti-Semitism in Europe, academic discrimination (e.g. Samira al-Haj), fraud in Middle East studies where people who can’t read or speak Arabic teach Arab studies, etc., etc. That’s your fate Omnia as an America, liberal, woman, Arab, Muslim, Egyptian. So quit obsessing about the West who is not as omnipotent as the headlines indicate. Don’t shy away from the multifaceted fight. So, put away that lipstick because the pig is just too ugly.

this information is very usefull it helped pass the final exam. i love this website. it rocks.

I used alot of information 4 my daughters research .Thank you .

The power in the Sadist. That is the Revolution. The reason for the power IS the means of communicating what power is. And the production stays irrelevant.

As an American who left home to study abroad in France, I learned at an early age to question my assumptions and to gather information, as much information as possible, before forming opinions. I am now in my mid-40's and live in Rome, where I have perhhaps become too complacent and sit too comfortably in my chair of "enlightened" middle age. Thank you Mr Amar for waking me up.