[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Egypt and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Egypt Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to egypt@jadaliyya.com by Sunday night of every week.]
#Jan25 in Two Plus Five Music Videos
Safa Samiezade’ Yazd compiles five music videos released during or a somewhat after the 25 January 2011 uprising.
Regional Strife Destroying Historical Arab Treasures
Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi argues, “Constant wars and instability are wreaking havoc on ancient relics across the Arab world, from Syria and Iraq to Egypt and North Africa.”
A Question of Generations OR a Generational Question?
Naira Antoun presents views explaining reasons of low voting turnout among youths during the two-day vote on the constitutional referendum.
49 Dead in Saturday Clashes, Interrogations Start with Over 1000 Detainees
Death toll of Saturday’s clashes with the security forces is forty-nine, according to the Ministry of Health’s official statement.
Presidential Elections to Precede Parliamentary, Announces Mansour
Mada Masr reports on interim President Adly Mansour’s announcement on presidential and parliamentary elections.
State of Being: Revolution
Amira Salah-Ahmed re-writes a poem she wrote in 2011 following the January 25 Revolution.
An Exchange of Letters
Alia Mossallam and Lina Attalah publish the letters that they exchanged and in which they reflect on social, political, and economic developments on the third anniversary of January 25 Revolution.
Stuck Between Two Revolutions
Naira Antoun interviews Mostafa Fouad, a former member of Tamarod (Rebel) movement.
Graffiti For Two... Alaa and Douma
Alaa Abdl Fattah and Ahmed Douma reflect on the current situation in Egypt in a literary piece.
2011 Was Not 1968: An Open Letter From Egypt
Philip Rizk writes on the January 25 Revolution, in which he states, “This was no weakness of an uprising but testifies to a global crisis to imagine alternative forms of social organization to the neoliberal state with its self-perpetuating, self-destructive stratification.”
UAE Jails Twenty Egyptians for ‘Setting Up Muslim Brotherhood Cell’
Rana Muhammad Taha reports on the Emirati Union Supreme Court’s sentence against twenty Egyptians charged with having ties with Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood.
‘We Must Restore The Spirit of Unity’: Muslim Brotherhood
Aoron T. Rose comments on a statement released by the Muslim Brotherhood three days before the commemoration of the third anniversary of the January 25 Revolution is set to take place.
Renowned Scholar in Egypt Charged With Espionage
David D. Kirkpatrick writes on the charges made against Egyptian political scientist Emad Shahin.
Egypt and The Arab Uprisings
Andrea Teti and Gennaro Gervasio write on domestic, regional, and international obstacles revolutionaries faced in the aftermath of the uprising in Egypt.
Egypt’s Factions Divided Over Jan. 25 Celebrations
Ahmed Fouad writes on the divisions among social and political actors on the third anniversary of the January 25 Revolution.
Cairo Bombings: Militant Group Claims Responsibility As New Blast Hits City
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis claim responsibility for blasts that rocked Cairo on Friday.
Five Egyptian Embassy Staff Kidnapped in Libya
The Guardian reports on the kidnapping of Five Egyptian embassy staff in Tripoli, Libya.
Speaking Truth to Power – Part 1
H.A. Hellyer writes on what should have been the ramifications of the January 25 Revolution in regards to having the capability and ability to focus on critiquing those in power.
On Owning The Memory of The Martyrs
Laura Gribbon writes on various political groups’ exploitation and manipulation of the narratives produced on the fallen victims in the last three years.
Revolution Edited: "Back When" Egypt Dared to Defy
Adel Iskandar’s re-edited piece on the January 25 Revolution argues that the “ January 25 Revolution is being buried alive by popular demand.”
Escalation on Cards as Bombings Add Fuel to Fire Ahead of Revolution`s Anniversary
Sharif Tarek writes, “Many political groups still intend to mark the 2011 revolution`s third anniversary with celebrations and demonstrations, despite deadly bombings.”
Coercion and Social Change: The Case of the Egyptian Revolution
Maged Mandour says, “Would a renewed `Jacobin spirit` among the revolutionary forces in Egypt push the movement towards its logical conclusion?”
Egypt’s Spring and Following Autumn: The Revival of the Military-Civil Social Contract
Hesham Shafick says, “Public support for the revolution was not based on strictly rational grounds. It was an act of sympathy with utopian dreamers fighting a tyrant regime.”
Egypt: Church and State
Mina Fayek questions, “Should the Coptic Church be involved in Egypt`s political transition? Or in politics at all?”
Where Will Egypt’s Constitution Lead?
Scott Williamson argues that the current political oppressive environment will not produce “sustainable institutional reforms as a particularly plausible outcome of the new constitution.”
Interviewing Nader Bakkar, Co-Founder of Egypt’s Nour Party
Ignacio M. Delgado Culebras interviews Nader Bakkar, co-founder and spokesperson of Al-Nour Party.
Egypt Has Little to Celebrate on January 25
Mohannad Sabry says, “Three years after the uprising that toppled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Egypt is more polarized than ever.”
Egyptians Vote Yes, For Many Reasons
Wael Nawara says, “Egyptians said "yes" to the new constitution for many, widely different, reasons.”
Egypt’s Ongoing Crisis in Letters
Shadi Rahimi argues, “Letters released by an activist, a journalist from prison and an Islamic scholar reveal the depth of the polarization in Egyptian society.”
Egyptian Uprising Three Years On: More Violence, Fewer Liberal Voices
Patrick Kingsley says, “As clashes continue, leftists who were expected to profit from Mubarak`s overthrow are squeezed out of political discourse.”
One More Anniversary
Ziad A. Akl argues that similar to previous revolutions throughout history, the Egyptian revolution was taken over by actors other than those who started the uprising on 25 January 2011.
Dogged Determination – A More Sober Jan25
Dr. H.A. Hellyer argues that on the third anniversary of the January 25 Revolution activists and revolutionaries have become more “sober” as opposed to the utopian spirit felt in 2011.
Need to Transition From Informal to Formal Politics
Adel El-Adawy says, “The popular removal of the fascists’ secretive Brotherhood cult was seen by some as a step backwards for democracy, but it was actually a necessity and inevitable for Egypt’s real democratic prospects.”
Update: Eight Killed in Clashes Nationwide
Mada Masr reports on clashes between Muslim Brotherhood supporters and security forces on a Friday protest.
In Photos: Abdeen Blast Aftermath
Heba Afify and Lindsey Parietti publish photos of explosion site in Cairo.
The Second Death of Khaled Saeed
Heba Afify writes on Khaled Saeed’s case, in which she argues that “The martyr [Khaled Saeed] dies again, in cyberspace and the courthouse.”
The Changing Face of Tahrir
Passant Rabie draws a comparison between the general atmosphere during the 25 January 2011 uprising and now in Tahrir Square.
Re-Reading Myself: On Writing the Revolution
Sarah Rifky re-writes an article on the January 25 Revolution.
A Letter From Alaa Abd El Fattah to His Sisters
Alaa Abd El Fattah writes a letter to his sisters from prison on 24 December 2013.
From Nasser to Sisi: Max Weber and Egyptian ‘Legitimacy’
Mortiz Mihatsch says, ““Sisi has gradually reached a level of popularity and public adoration that has granted him charismatic legitimacy. And charismatic legitimacy, as discussed before, does not depend on rules and laws.”
Please Keep It in the Family and Spare Us
Sarah Carr reviews an Egyptian film title “Family Secrets.”
Q&A With Egypt’s Head of Censorship, Ahmed Awaad
Maxa Zoller interviews Ahmed Awaad head of Egypt’s censorship board.
Al-Azhar’s Power Play
Mai Shams El-Din and Mohamad Salma Adam argue that the state’s imposed restrictions on the Muslim Brotherhood’s presence in Egypt’s mosques “curb its religious influence.”
An Anti-Jewish Autobiography?
Ahmed Zaki Osman reviews memoir of Abdel Hameed Gouda al-Sahar (1913-1974).
Egypt: Return of the Deep State
Eckart Woertz argues, “With the referendum the military secures its privileges, but its main challenge is the economic crisis.”
The Meanings of Egypt’s Referendum
Bassem Sabry says, “Egypt`s new constitution is more progressive than its predecessors.”
Appeal of Egyptian Activists against Jail Sentence Adjourned to 10 February
Ahram Online reports, “The Cairo appellate court also refused to suspend the three-year jail sentence for Douma, Maher and Adel`s alleged organization of illegal protests and assaulting police officers last November.”
Consequences
Mahmoud Salem presents a number of consequences resulting from implementing laws of the newly approved constitution.
The Illusion of Change
Rana Allam argues that stability and security cannot be truly attained in Egypt unless state institutions change from within.
Egypt’s Sixteen Richest Men
Daily News Egypt releases list of Egypt’s sixteen wealthiest men according to Egypt Business Directory.
Strong Egypt Party: The Revolution`s Constitution Has Yet To Be Written
Mada Masr reports on Strong Egypt Party’s statement on the results of the constitutional referendum.
Pause For a Second and Visualize This – Poverty In Egypt
Sarah Sabry writes on poverty in Egypt.
The Rules of the Game
Sahrif Rizq writes on the electorate’s expectations from politicians, whom she considers as rational actors in the sociopolitical sphere.
In Arabic:
25 يناير «الوطن».. الذى نريد
Ayman El-Sayyad explores several notions on how he hoped Egypt would be following the January 25 Revolution.
نحو معالجة أشمل
Amr Hamzawi calls for a comprehensive plan to deal with “terrorism” rather than focusing on investigating explosion sites, and tightening security measures in the country.
!باقولك أيام سودا
Bilal Fadl argues that the regime’s oppression against the Muslim Brotherhood will not establish a secure and stable state, as Egyptian authorities imply.
آن أوان دفن الموتى
Akram Ismael argues that popular support for the military-backed regime will not last long unless the state implements true socioeconomic reforms.
فردوس الميدان المفقودة
Hanan Badawi comments on Khaled el-Sha’alan’s review of the documentary film The Square.
أوجه الميدان المتغيرة
Besnit Rabe’e argues that in the last three years Tahrir Square has become a space that reflects change in the sociopolitical sphere in Egypt.
!محمد عبد الحكم دياب: الحراك الشعبي بين أرقام الحشود ورسائل يبعث بها الجمهور
Mohammed Abdel Hakam Diyab writes on the inferences the Egyptian state used for its own gains to mobilize the people to vote on the referendum.
الحرب في سيناء: مكافحة إرهاب أم تحوّلات إستراتيجية في التعاون والعداء؟
Ismail el-Iskandarani presents a paper on the origins of “terrorism” in the Sinai Peninsula.
د.أحمد يوسف: تأملات نقدية فى الثورة المصرية
Dr. Ahmed Youssef argues that the oppressive practices of the regime will increase the determination of the youth to continue the revolution.
الفقر
Amr Hamzawi writes on poverty in Egypt.
جرافيتي لشخصين.. علاء ودومه
Alaa Abdl Fattah and Ahmed Douma reflect on the current situation in Egypt in a literary piece.
الفرصة التي تمنحها ٢٥ يناير للاقتصاد
Mohamad Gad argues that political parties, syndicates, and labor unions will not function properly as long as corruption and waste of public goods remains a salient practice in the country.
اكتشافان
Fahmi Huwaidi comments on the meeting between interim president Adly Mansour and representatives of Egypt’s youths.
مغادرة "الميدان"
Khaled Sha’alan reviews The Square.
خواطر بالعامية: تمن الاستقرار
Khaled Fahmi comments on president Obama’s latest speech, in which he touched on Egypt’s political developments.
سد النهضة.. وحرب المياه
Leyla Doss writes on the Egyptian-Ethiopian tense relations as a result of Renaissance Dam development project.
ملفات الأزمة تتحدى الجميع فى مصر
Fahmi Huwaidi argues that the crisis in Egypt is challenging for all social and political forces in the country.
كلمات موصولة.. ومعانٍ مقتولة
Sharif Jamal Salem writes on the problematic use of specific terms to describe the crisis in Egypt.
انقسام جديد بين القوى السياسية في الذكرى الثالثة لثورة 25 يناير
Dunya Salem and Mohamed Antar write on newly formed divisions on the third anniversary of the January 25 Revolution.
مستقبل الرئيس المؤقت
Abdallah al-Snawi writes on the future of the interim president Adly Mansour following the approval of the constitution.
بوضوح
Amr Hamzawi argues oppressive laws and partial implementations of social and economic laws is not a lasting formula of the illusive stability and security Egyptians authorities claim to attain.
"حزب النور والدعوة السلفية يعلنان عدم مشاركتهما في الاحتفال بذكرى "ثورة يناير
Salafist Nour Party says the party will refrain from participating in the third anniversary of the January 25 Revolution.
Recently on Jadaliyya Egypt:
كتب: مقابلة مع ديمة الشكر
Jadaliyya’s Arabic Editors interview Dima al-Choukr on her book Enclaved Tunes: History of Early and Contemporary Prosody.
كتب: الرنين المطوّق: العروض قديماً وحديثاً
Dima al-Choukr releases an excerpt of her newly published book titled Enclaved Tunes: History of Early and Contemporary Prosody.
Letting Go of Revolutionary Purity
Hesham Sallam argues that observers of the Egyptian “revolution” should re-analyze the misleading narratives produced on the 25 January uprising.
Statement by Emad Shahin in Response to Egyptian State Security Charges
Jadaliyya’s Reports Page releases statement by political scientist Emad Shahin on the charges made against him by Egyptian court.
إسماعيل أدهم ناقداً منسياً في عبقرية أمراضه
Ahmad Alwasel writes on literary historian Ismael Adham
Horreya or Kharya
Medrar TV reports on Horreya or Kharya an exhibition on the January 25 Revolution. (VIDEO)
Le Caire, laboratoire de l`urbanisme insurrectionnel
Roman Stadnicki reviews Learning from Cairo by Beth Stryker, Omar Nagati, and Magda Mostafa.