Egypt – what next?

When people’s aspirations are neglected and economic disparities become intolerable revolutions are bound to take place. But the current situation in the Middle East is constantly bringing me back to the thought as to – “what exactly constitutes a revolution?”

Revolution v/s Uprising

Both these terms may be synonymous to a lay man but in the case of Middle East they have to be distinguished conceptually from one another. A revolution is essentially known as a change in ideas and value system, i.e. a complete transformation. Where as an uprising is a revolt that symbolizes discomfort and may bring about certain level of change but may not be a transformation of any sort. The huge uprising in Egypt therefore, I believe, is still in the process of becoming a complete revolution. Overthrowing the president who ruled the country for almost three decades is certainly a commendable aspect of this uprising but the question remains-“what next?”

Just a mere change of power is not a revolution; a change in the value system is what constitutes one. The Egyptian socio-political scenario right now is confronting many questions at one go –

•             Leadership and democracy,
•              US influence
•               Muslim Brotherhood and the opposition

The US influence and the role of Muslim Brotherhood will play an important role in the coming days. It is a classic example of conflict of interests within and without, with the US supporting democratic movement and the opposition party of Egypt (Muslim Brotherhood) trying to realize its long awaited dream of an Islamic government. The trick to resolve this hitch lies in the hands of the leadership (which is yet to emerge). The school of thought that the leadership belongs to may give a definite direction to the movement.  Thus, I believe with regard to any revolution, the values the society evolves & resolves to follow is what shapes the constitution and leads to constitutionalism of the state.

Here I remember my Professor Dr. Yashwant Sumant’s (HOD Department of Politics, Pune University) lecture on Constitutionalism –“any polity is defined by its constitution. The constitution and the system of governance adopted by it define the role of individual within the polity. Thus the relationship between one individual and another, between individual and groups; and between individual and the state is defined by the constitution.”

In the case of Egypt and many other Middle Eastern states the revolutions seem to be stuck up with the overthrowing of the current heads of state, very little can be gauged about the society or people’s ideas on liberty, equality and gender justice. Only time shall tell the tale!