photo from Boing Boing blog
Egypt: Doubts cast on Turkish claims for model democracy
Supporters say Turkey’s ruling AKP party’s brand of political Islam could be role model for Muslim Brotherhood, but opponents warn of authoritarianism
According to conventional wisdom, Turkey has become the template of our times: a large Muslim-majority country that has moved from military domination to civilian rule in a few years, spearheaded by a popular democratically elected government trumpeting its EU membership ambitions.
Egypt and the Turkish model
The end of Arab exceptionalism
Africa reacts to the fall of Mubarak
from FP Passport by Elizabeth Dickinson
America?s anaemic reaction to Egypt?s democratic struggle, Seyoum Tesfaye
In the past few days the world had been witnessing a vigorous rebellion by determined people in Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen to assert their basic democratic rights. To someone like me – an immigrant who was lucky enough to have been given the protection of the American constitution and the Bill of Rights – it was puzzling to see the incoherently pallid response of the Obama Administration to what is unfolding.
After Mubarak’s refusal to leave: which way will the armed pillars of the state jump?, Eberhard Kienle
Contested narratives and security implications as protests continue across the Arab world, , Oliver Scanlan
US government turns up heat on Mubarak regime while commentators remain divided
In his strongest statement yet on the unfolding leadership crisis in Egypt, US President Obama expressed his concern that the Cairo regime had to yet to put forward a ?credible, concrete and unequivocal path toward genuine democracy? and his support for the protesters as representing ?the greatness of the Egyptian people.? He also called for any reforms to be ?irreversible?, interpreted by some commentators to suggest scepticism at Mubarak?s handing over of power to his vice-president, Omar Suleiman. The statement comes one day after both the US president and his CIA director, Leon Panetta, made optimistic suggestions that the Egyptian president would step down on Friday and were subsequently humiliated by Mubarak?s continuing intransigence.
Sovereign democracy, Egyptian style , Grigorii Golosov
The similarities between the Egyptian and Russian regime are striking, says Grigorii Golosov. Arguably, Mubarak?s is the more liberal one.
The Egyptian Revolution: the desire to be peaceful ? and normal ? must prevail, Anthony Barnett
UPDATE: Joyous scenes! The people have prevailed.The regime is not down yet but it has been decapitated by the 25 January movement which has refused intimidation and suffered more than 300 dead and won thanks to its immense power and restraint.
Don?t Egyptians deserve democracy?, Islam Qasem
YouTube & Twitter React to Mubarak?s Resignation
from Mashable! by Sarah Kessler
After Egypt: towards a geopolitics of democracy?
from Ideas on Europe by European Geostrategy
Where does Mubarak go now? [Updated]
from FP Passport by Joshua Keating
Hosni Mubarak and Don Giovanni
from tabsir.net by tabsir
Democracy, Europe, Nationalism… and Nick Clegg: a response to Anthony Barnett, David Marquand
The Arab 1989?, Alia Brahimi, David Held and Kristian Coates Ulrichsen
Obama adopts Egypt’s revolution
from Mark Mardell | The Reporters
17 Human Rights NGOs in Egypt list their demands for consolidating the “January 25 Revolution”
from From the field by arn
Is it really over?
The scene in Cairo’s Tahrir Square had an aura of finality today, as volunteers dismantled barricades and checkpoints, began packing up their blankets and tents, and prepared to go home. Crowds of Egyptians strolled the square, many of them looking more like tourists as they gawked at the scene of last week’s intense battles and took pictures with soldiers and bandaged-up protesters. Others — some wearing signs saying “Sorry for Disturbance. We Build Egypt” and “Enter Egypt in Peace and Safety” — brought out brooms, dustpans, and trash bags, sweeping away the piles of garbage and dust that had accumulated over the siege of the past three weeks.
The Egyptian people have toppled Mubarak, an extraordinary moment, but the regime has not been toppled, not yet.
The military has taken power, but in reality the military has–even since the 1952 coup– held the balance of power in Cairo.
The Egyptian military has always lurked in the shadows of the Egyptian regime. The levers of influence were seldom exposed to view. Yet, when senior civilian politicos, such as Osama al-Baz, reflected on the regime and its prospects for reform, they often pointed to the powerful role of the generals and vetoes they held in their back pockets. For years, as expectations grew that Husni Mubarak’s son Gamal would succeed his father, it was the military veto that thwarted him.
Audio: Philosophers Zone ? 12 February 2011 ? Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood and Sayyid Qutb
Egypt: Dance Dance Revolution (big photo gallery)
from Boing Boing by Xeni Jardin
Egyptian President Steps Down Amidst Groundbreaking Digital Revolution
from Mashable! by Emily Banks