People Demand…
The People Demand…
The WEST and the RESTEnduring Notions?
Destined to be despotic;
DEMOCRACY HAS TO BE BROUGHT FORM THE OUTSIDE (by the west)
Expressions of the Orientalist imaginary
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 and THE MYTH OF ORIENTALISM
Clearly don’t need rescue!
What about People’s Movement?
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?