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Muslim Affairs Team
Answer
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Name
Editor
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Profession
Question
Recently, social demonstrations have swept Egypt and Journalists and judges asked about their rights? Do you think that the society and civil society can force the state towards change?
Answer
Yes indeed. Pressures for change are increasing. The main deficit and the most important challenge to make these pressures productive is to federate the dispersed and disorganized social movements under a common program for political change. That is the issue now. This process should take years, especially that the Egyptian opposition is weak and disorganized.
Name
Sally
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Profession
Question
Sir, How could Egyptians themselves change? We Egyptians have so many weaknesses that are drawing us away from development. Yes, there are lots of good people, but there are also lots of people who don't work hard or want the country to get advanced. Do you think the problem is with the current political regime.? If so, what can we do as ordinary people? Thanks
Answer
Dear Sally,
The problem is in the regime and the society. We are enduring this authoritarian regime because we are not active and positive enough to change it.
I agree, some Egyptians are neither working nor interested in political change. Change should not necessarily come from the whole population. Political democracy often comes from the work of an organized minority capable of gaining some support from the population.
What can ordinary people do? by ordinary you mean non politicized? I think every body should:
- Be efficient and productive in his or her profession.
- Follow up public affairs
- Participate in changing society by being an active member of a certain group, party, organization, or syndicate, etc.
Name
Leo of Tripoli
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Profession
Question
How significant is the role of the United States in driving Egypt either towards or away from political reform?
Answer
Hi Leo,
The most significant role, I believe, is saved for the Egyptian people.
The United States has been unable to block the rise of the left in Latin American during the last years. It was also unable to hinder change in Vietnam and Iran.
As for the role played by the US government and whether it is negative or positive for democracy. Until this moment I believe on the overall it is negative. For US government has been supporting the authoritarian regime in Egypt since the seventies.
Name
Dina Sherif
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Salam Alikom Mr. Samer
There are many people on the opposition sides, how do you think their ambitions can expand to cause real change in Egypt under the current presidency?
Answer
We Alikom al salam Dina,
Most of the Egyptian people, I believe, do not want that corrupt, failed and authoritarian regime.
The problem of Egypt, however, is in its opposition as much as it is in its regime. Democracy and tolerance is not one of the main qualities of this opposition.
The basic positive value Egyptians seek is justice. Yet, justice in modern and complex societies cannot be achieved except by democracy.
And democracy in turn cannot be achieved without concessions, without a cost. One of the main costs is giving individual liberties. For me it is not a cost, it is rather a reward, but for many it is a huge cost.
Some don't want religious freedom (look at what is happening for Baha'i and Christians and Shi'a).
They don't want freedom of expression (look at their call for censorship). That is the problem: there is no available formula, at my knowledge, to reach democracy without public and individual liberties.
Name
jackson
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Profession
Question
Waht do you think of cyber activism? Do you think internet blogger could be strong political force? why?
Answer
Dear Jackson,
Cyber activism is excellent as far as it is linked to other forms of activism; I mean as it is used as a mechanism of communication and mobilization.
The issue is simple: if communicating with people on the net does not lead to other forms of communication (face to face) it wont be very productive.
Name
Abdullah
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Profession
Question
Do you think that change can come from inside the NDP, intelligence, or/and the army? is there some elements promoting change? how? and why?
Answer
Dear Abdallah,
Yes the regime is changing. It has been in a state of transformation since several decades from being a bureaucratic/military authoritarian to more representative of a new coalition between the bureaucracy/military and their clients in the business community.
Let me be clear. The army is not a force of political change in Egypt. Chief officers are part of the ruling coalition. Any change coming from the army won't be the change I aspire to.
We don't need any new coup d'état. We need, I believe, democracy. And democracy normally comes from societal forces finding their only way to promote their interests by democracy.
I think of workers as an example or some segments of the educated middle classes. These people are the forces of change.
Yet as I said before, the challenge is how to organize dispersed forces under one democratic umbrella.
Salam
Name
a
-
Profession
Question
How does the financial crisis affect the regime's attitude towards change?
Answer
Do you mean the world financial crisis? In general, decreasing state revenues and worsening economic conditions put more pressures on the authoritarian regime.
The recourse to violence and repression will be more often. Authoritarian regimes are living by both the carrot (money) and the stick (repression). If money is decreasing the use of the stick will increase.
But the financial crisis is a chance for the people on the left. There is a universal demystification today concerning liberalism and neo-liberalism. Now, it is time to rethink the whole capitalist economy.
Name
tarek
- United Arab Emirates
Profession
Question
If a new government takes control, especially the Muslim Brothers, do you think the thieves and criminals among the former ruling party have to worry about accountability and face jail time or even the death penalty?
What about the hoards of money they've been stealing for over 30 years, will they be asked to hand it over?
Answer
It depends on how the eventual new regime will come. Sometimes the formula to convince the old regime to go, it to offer the rulers grace.
This is what happened in South Africa, although there were some symbolic penalities against who commited crimes and tortures against the population.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
The session has ended. We would like to thank Dr. Samer Soliman for taking the time to answer your questions, and all those who participated in the dialogue.
We apologize for not being able to answer all the questions due to time limitation.
