There is a mimetic component to similar apparatuses. Authoritarian governments, for example, have many similarities in how they deal with dissent and the methods they utilize; in the same way, successful revolutions have their similarities in what factors led to their toppling of the governing body. However, what is just as important is when the revolutionary forces translate to a governing body; this is always an imperfect process, but in the worst case scenario there is either major strife that ensues in the short term, or the creation of a new authoritarian regime. The nature of the initial revolution and its character I believe define how well the translation from revolutionary to governing ensues.
These are a few points I want you to keep in mind while examining the Egyptian revolution. What has most characterized this revolution is the organization and consistent peacefulness of the massed protestors, who are from many different interest groups. Consistent peacefulness represents that although the protestors are willing to defend themselves, and have indeed set up citizen security groups and check points, that even after violence breaks out, the protestors work to minimize the violence and end it, and then go back to peaceful demonstration. This has continued through sixteen (last I wrote this it was seven!) days now, and seems to adapt to the increased violence committed by pro-Mubarak forces in last Wednesday and Thursday. (Pro-Mubarak Forces Attack Wednesday)
One similarity between Egypt and the United States is that the army is overall more sympathetic to its people than to its government. The Egyptian army is conscripted and the US army is volunteer, but this is an important point to make, because the military decides the fate of every revolution; whether they engage with the protestors, oppose the protestors, or stand to the side. Even an armed revolution can not stand against a modern army, as the advantages a national military force has, from armor and mechanized infantry to gunship and air power, are manifestly different from the power projection available to the British army in the 1770s.
The three choices of an army are on a continuum between two poles. The level of opposition and engagement stands, at their furthest points, at complete obliteration of a citizenry by the army, versus the army completely joining the citizenry. The usual halfway points would be the army firing on the citizenry to clear a protest (Tiananmen Square), or the army supporting the revolution and then letting a civil government form. More often, the army creates a provisional government, which may turn permanent.
A revolution never acts with omniscience, and its leaders are either limited or with selfish intentions, or both. Theoretically, what is a perfect revolution? I would say it is where there is a flawless removal of the corrupted elements of the government, and imperceptible transition from the former government to the revolutionary government as far as loss of services; and, of course, a representative government that is now able to respond to the needs of its people.
It is impossible to carry out a perfect revolution, but just as revolutionary forces have learned from each other, so can we do the same now with Egypt, which is clearly fielding a remarkably organized and conscientious citizenry. (Voices of the Egyptian Revolution) They have also managed to defend themselves against another organized group, one willing to use lethal force. (Battle for Tahrir, see bottom)
It's pretty refreshing too to hear an honestness and humility from one of the organizers recently pushed into the spotlight; Wael Ghonim, administrator to one of the organizing facebook pages for the revolution and Google executive.
"First of all, I want to tell everyone, everyone, all the mothers and fathers who have lost a child, I am very sorry for your loss, and may God accept them as martyrs, whether they were regular citizens or officers or policemen. Anyone who has died is a martyr. I don’t want to say I’m sorry, because the people who thought of this demonstration never thought of breaking a thing, let alone kill a human being. We are the youth that loves Egypt, and we did this because we love Egypt, and our first call is that we have rights. And these rights can never be claimed by destroying property, whether private or public property. Our hope was for the people to go out and say, "I want my rights," and that’s it. That is all. And so, I must pay my respects to these people, because—
I want to tell you something. We’ll talk first, but in Egypt, we like to claim heroism. I’m no hero. I was asleep for 12 days. The heroes are the ones who were in the streets. The heroes are those who got beaten up. The heroes are those who got arrested and put their lives in danger. I was not a hero." (The Heroes are the Ones in the Street)
In further posts I would like to speculate more on what can be gleaned from the Egyptian revolution. A new standard is being written.
With the greatest respect to our brothers and sisters in the Egyptian revolution,
The Dragon of San Marcos
One similarity between Egypt and the United States is that the army is overall more sympathetic to its people than to its government. The Egyptian army is conscripted and the US army is volunteer, but this is an important point to make, because the military decides the fate of every revolution; whether they engage with the protestors, oppose the protestors, or stand to the side. Even an armed revolution can not stand against a modern army, as the advantages a national military force has, from armor and mechanized infantry to gunship and air power, are manifestly different from the power projection available to the British army in the 1770s.
The three choices of an army are on a continuum between two poles. The level of opposition and engagement stands, at their furthest points, at complete obliteration of a citizenry by the army, versus the army completely joining the citizenry. The usual halfway points would be the army firing on the citizenry to clear a protest (Tiananmen Square), or the army supporting the revolution and then letting a civil government form. More often, the army creates a provisional government, which may turn permanent.
A revolution never acts with omniscience, and its leaders are either limited or with selfish intentions, or both. Theoretically, what is a perfect revolution? I would say it is where there is a flawless removal of the corrupted elements of the government, and imperceptible transition from the former government to the revolutionary government as far as loss of services; and, of course, a representative government that is now able to respond to the needs of its people.
It is impossible to carry out a perfect revolution, but just as revolutionary forces have learned from each other, so can we do the same now with Egypt, which is clearly fielding a remarkably organized and conscientious citizenry. (Voices of the Egyptian Revolution) They have also managed to defend themselves against another organized group, one willing to use lethal force. (Battle for Tahrir, see bottom)
It's pretty refreshing too to hear an honestness and humility from one of the organizers recently pushed into the spotlight; Wael Ghonim, administrator to one of the organizing facebook pages for the revolution and Google executive.
"First of all, I want to tell everyone, everyone, all the mothers and fathers who have lost a child, I am very sorry for your loss, and may God accept them as martyrs, whether they were regular citizens or officers or policemen. Anyone who has died is a martyr. I don’t want to say I’m sorry, because the people who thought of this demonstration never thought of breaking a thing, let alone kill a human being. We are the youth that loves Egypt, and we did this because we love Egypt, and our first call is that we have rights. And these rights can never be claimed by destroying property, whether private or public property. Our hope was for the people to go out and say, "I want my rights," and that’s it. That is all. And so, I must pay my respects to these people, because—
I want to tell you something. We’ll talk first, but in Egypt, we like to claim heroism. I’m no hero. I was asleep for 12 days. The heroes are the ones who were in the streets. The heroes are those who got beaten up. The heroes are those who got arrested and put their lives in danger. I was not a hero." (The Heroes are the Ones in the Street)
In further posts I would like to speculate more on what can be gleaned from the Egyptian revolution. A new standard is being written.
With the greatest respect to our brothers and sisters in the Egyptian revolution,
The Dragon of San Marcos
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