Faculty panel dissects Egypt conflict

When Egypt’s military intervened amidst the country’s recent crisis, democracy lost, according to a panel of five Middle East experts.

A faculty panel of experts on the Middle Eastern conflict gave insight into the complex state of democracy and politics in Egypt this Monday in the Indiana Memorial Union.

The panel included law instructor Hesham Genidy, professor of Central Eurasian Studies Nazif Shahrani and SPEA instructors Leslie Lenkowsky and Rajendra
Abhyankar.

“Why has the Arab Spring turned into the Season of Arab discontent?” Shahrani asked.

In less than a year Egypt has changed from an authoritative government, to a theocratic government and to a military leadership. The most recent revolution occurred this summer when popularly-elected but corrupt Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi was overthrown with the help of the citizens and military. Adly Mansour, interim leader, was appointed by the military to lead the government.

The military owns much of the industry in Egypt, giving it economic as well as military power. The panelists agreed that the military control in Egypt is not conducive to a democratic environment.

“I think there is a general desire, definitely, in Egypt that the army needs to be under civilian control,” former Indian Ambassador to the European Union Abhyankar said.

Shahrani quoted Sir William Harcourt in saying military interventions’ essence is illegality and its justification is its success.

However, the panelists agreed democracy is not exactly in line for the next administration.

“There is a leadership vacuum that will have to be filled one way or another,” Lenkowsky said.

Shahrani said this is due to a lack of vision and engagement that has been overshadowed by the politics of extraction.

Shahrani said Egypt’s pharaonic ideal of leadership, as well as their instrumental use of religion, has been consistent in the corruption each regime.

“Religion becomes a tool for scaring, clubbing, killing, damning and dehumanizing on both sides and all sides.” Shahrani said.

The panel noted another theme which lived on in the changing government was its dependence on foreign aid.

“The regimes that run these countries are rented,” Shahrani said. “No regime can last in these areas unless they bring in foreign money, foreign support and everything else.”

Follow reporter Sarah Zinn on Twitter @zinner12.