Congrès Mondial des Études sur le Moyen-Orient et l'Afrique du Nord

Barcelone, du 19 au 24 Juillet 2010

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The Egyptian Political Scene: Coordinated Efforts to Promote Change (087) - NOT_DEFINED activity_field_Roundtable
 

· NOT_DEFINED institution: Coalition of Egyptian Organizations (Egypt & USA)

· NOT_DEFINED organizer: Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim

· NOT_DEFINED language: English

· NOT_DEFINED description: In 2005 Egypt witnessed a revival of political activism and engagement that led Egyptians of all stripes to become increasingly active and vocal in their demands for democratization. Since that time, these voices have largely disappeared from the public sphere due to the withdrawal of international pressure on the Egyptian government for political reform, and the subsequent harsh crackdown on reformists, labor organizers, bloggers and journalists. Despite these setbacks, Egyptians continue to organize and struggle for greater public space and freedom. The courageous voices still working within Egypt face intimidation, arrest, and disruption of their organizational capacity. These difficulties reinforce the need for a coordinated approach that works to strengthen Egyptian democrats in the time leading up to the Parliamentary elections in 2010 and the Presidential elections in 2011. The Coalition of Egyptian Organizations was created for this purpose and seeks to unite Egyptian civil society across borders and ethnic/religious identity. This Coalition was the first coordinated effort to unite secular and religious opposition forces including: Coptic Christians, Nubian advocates, and various members of the Egyptian Diaspora. Their efforts have received a large amount of coverage in the Egyptian media, and State run publications often disparage their efforts as an attempt to undermine the regime. Roundtable presentations will discuss the current political and socioeconomic realities of the Egyptian political scene in the year leading up to the 2010/2011 elections. The discussion will include an analysis of the relevant political actors in the upcoming elections including the impact of the Muslim Brotherhood and the unexpected candidacy of Nobel Laureate Mohamed El Baradei. Rising religious sectarianism will also be discussed as well as the role of women, new media, political identity, and US policy on the political process.

Chair: Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim (Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies, Cairo & Drew University), “Towards a Post-Mubarak Egypt: An Analysis of the Egyptian Political Space”

Presenter: Cameel Halim (Coptic Assembly of America), “Increasing Sectarianism in the Mubarak Era: Mobilizing Coptic Christians as a Political Force”

Presenter: Mokhtar Kamel (Coalition of Egyptian American Organizations), “Election Politics and Egyptian Identity”

Presenter: Maria Dayton (Voices for a Democratic Egypt), “Democracy Promotion in the Age of Obama: An Egyptian Case Study”