http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2011/1043/op6.htm
14 - 20 April 2011 Issue No. 1043 Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 Revolution is a messy affair Patience is needed for the Egyptian revolution to bear fruit, though the people expect immediate change, writes Samir Sobhi -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We've ventured into the unknown and we've emerged slightly battered and a bit dishevelled. This is all part of the game. You cannot have a birth without going through the messy business of delivery. So what's next? The immediate task is clear. The freedom we sought has to acquire a recognisable shape, has to be moulded into a form that is suitable to us as Egyptians. We will have to reinvent ourselves as a modern nation living in a fast-changing world, a world that no longer recognises barriers to information or innovation. Years ago, veteran journalist Mohamed Hassanein Heikal was kind enough to write an introduction for my book, In the Corridors of Journalism. In that introduction, he said that there are three types of political legitimacies. One is the traditional legitimacy that arises from religious or tribal roots and that calls for unquestioned obedience on the part of the governed. Of this kind of legitimacy, Saudi Arabia is a clear example. Then there is constitutional and legal legitimacy, which grows from the balance among various classes and social forces once a certain level of economic, social and cultural progress is achieved. Under this kind of legitimacy, conflicting interests can be balanced through free and democratic dialogue. Great Britain offers an example for how this kind of legitimacy works. The third kind of legitimacy is transitional legitimacy, which tends to arise in periods of transition from traditional to modern legitimacy. Usually, transitional legitimacy centres on the figure of a strongman, a benevolent or malevolent tyrant. At best, the strongman would be someone with charisma who could lead his nation smoothly through periods of delicate transition. Every now and then, history propels a man into a leading position, one that he may fill with dignity or abuse to the detriment of his people. This model is usually seen in periods of great turmoil, such as those preceding the rise of Cromwell in England, Napoleon in France, or Bismarck in Germany. More recent examples of one-man rule are De Gaulle in France, Abdel-Nasser in Egypt, and Tito in Yugoslavia. The press in any country is only a reflection of its state of political affairs. In cases of one-man rule, the press is expected to toe the line, refraining from any criticism of the leader and his family. In cases constitutional legitimacy, problems are solved through free speech and the press becomes central to political debate, an integral part of the democratic process. In regimes based on the legitimacy of one man, the whole of political life becomes concentrated, and the press can at best offer cautious advice, and at worst sing the praises of the regime. History changes when one type of legitimacy is replaced by another, a process that is often bloody and messy. When two legitimacies reach the point of collision, change is bound to happen. And it is not over until the remnants of the old legitimacy are defeated. Political systems do not end of their own accord. They have to be defeated by more powerful agents, by new forces that are ready and willing to assume leadership. Frightful scenes of collision are to be expected when the traditional past is challenged by the rising forces of democracy. For now, our main task should be to restore order to our streets, to make sure that the police are deployed in force and getting a decent pay. The seeds of change have been sown in Tahrir Square. We'll have to watch over them so that they may grow and bear fruit. We'll have to be patient. This is not an easy process. It may take a year or two, perhaps longer. But we're prepared to wait, because it is worth it. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
