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People Demand…. The People Demand…. The WEST and the REST. Enduring Notions? Destined to be despotic; DEMOCRACY HAS TO BE BROUGHT FORM THE OUTSIDE (by the west) . Expressions of the Orientalist imaginary. THEODORE ROOSEVELT:
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People Demand… The People Demand…
The WEST and the REST • Enduring Notions? • Destined to be despotic; • DEMOCRACY HAS TO BE BROUGHT FORM THE OUTSIDE (by the west)
THEODORE ROOSEVELT: • IT IS IMPORSSIBLE TO EXPECT MORAL, INTELLECTUAL AND MATERIAL WELL-BEING WHERE MOHAMMEDANISM IS SUPREME. • EGYTIANS ARE PEOPLE OF MUSLIM FELLAHIN WHO HAVE NEVER IN ALL TIME EXERCIZED ANY SELF-GOVERNMENT WHATSOEVER.
British Consul-General to Egypt (1883-1907) Lord Cromer announced, "I am here to liberate Muslim women, I am here to liberate them from Islam" - a view that demonstrates the desire to rescue the Muslim woman, even if against her will. • YET, he was the founder of the Women’s National Anti-Suffrage League (1908-1918) established in London on 21 July 1908.
National liberation movement were always oppressed: • Lord Cromer: The real future of Egypt...lies not in the direction of a narrow nationalism, which will only embrace Egyptians... but rather in that of an enlarged cosmopolitanism.
HOW THE WEST DOES IT? • DEPICT THE ARAB WORLD AS BACKWORD
What about Historical Background? • USA: Support the Mujahidin to get rid of the Soviets in Afghanistan • Taliban took it to the extreme…
THE MYTH IS STILL ALIVE • IRAQ WAR: BRINGING DEMORACY ON A TANK • THE WEST HAS A MISSION TO DEMOCRATIZE THE REGION
Arab Uprisings • Is it a Spring? • Is it an awakening? • Palestinian Struggle • Poetry – Art • 4000 Strikes and Protests between 1988-2011 • Is it a Revolution? • Revolutionary Process
Demand WHAT? • Dignity • Bread • Freedom • Social Justice Against Neo-liberalism • People DEMAND
Outcome? • For Every Revolution a Counter-Revolution • Facebook – Twitter (Contain the Revolution) • Violence in Syria and the Role of External Powers! • West support in Bahrain for the KSA • Structures and Formal Participation? • Elections • Referendum • Informal Politics • Art?